A MAN who punched his girlfriend twice in the face has been ordered to do 175 hours unpaid work.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Jordan Powell had been out with his partner and had been drinking when he attacked her at their home in Wildman Lane, Farnworth in the early hours of December 30 last year.

Police were called and 28-year-old Powell was arrested while his partner went to hospital for treatment for facial injuries.

Powell was due to stand trial for assaulting his girlfriend but the day it was due to start he changed his plea to guilty.

Elizabeth Evans, prosecuting, said it was the second time Powell has been convicted of domestic violence offences.

Lee Hughes, defending, stressed that Powell, a scaffolder, of Regent Avenue, Little Hulton, has had problems with depression and anxiety and the assault had not been premeditated.

Sentencing Powell to a two year community order Recorder Graham Wells told him only his guilty plea had saved him from going to jail.

“Domestic violence is serious and you have serious problems with it,” he said.

“It needs addressing because, if it isn’t, it will happen again.”

As part of his community sentence Powell must undertake 175 hours of unpaid work, participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities and pay £500 towards prosecution costs.