A row over a money box which ended with a man snatching it forcefully from his partner led to him being charged with assault.

At Carlisle’s magistrates court, Matthew Hyden, 32, from Oakleigh Way, Botcherby, Carlisle, pleaded guilty to a common assault on September 13.

The court heard how he and Lindsay Johnston had been in a “volatile” relationship and there was previous violence, with the defendant head- butting her – an offence that led to him getting a community order.

On September 13, they argued at home at 8.30am as Miss Johnston held a metal money box.

“He grabbed the box out of my hands with such force that it caused a bruise on my index finger,” said Miss Johnston later.

The action had knocked her to the floor and he threatened to kick her, the court heard.

“I was crying and begging him to get out of my house,” she added. Miss Johnston said she was scared of the defendant and wanted no more contact with him.

Steven Marsh, for Hyden, said his client denied threatening to kick Miss Johnston. The defendant had been due to go out to do his community service. He was making a cigarette in the kitchen when Miss Johnston picked up his red cash box and put it behind her back.

The lawyer said: “She wouldn’t let him get it, so he yanked it out of her hand and in the process she fell to the kitchen floor. He did not deliberately knock her to the floor.”

District Judge Gerald Chalk imposed a 12-month community order, with 80 hours of unpaid work, costs of £85, and £100 compensation for Miss Johnston.