A 28-year-old from Keighley has been ordered to stay away from his former partner after being found guilty by Skipton magistrates of assaulting her.

Samuel Spencer-Cairns admitted criminal damage at the Skipton home of Sarah Happs, but denied assault by beating on Christmas Eve last year.

He was found guilty after trial and, on Friday, after a pre-sentence report, magistrates ordered him to carry out 125 hours’ unpaid work. He was also given a two-year community order with supervision.

Magistrates agreed an indefinite restraining order barring him from entering Moorview Road in Skipton, and from contacting Ms Happs in any way, apart from through his solicitor in order to arrange contact with their child.

The court heard Spencer-Cairns, of South Street, had argued with Ms Happs at her home on December 24.

There had been two other people in the house at the time, together with Ms Happs’s children, and the adults had all been drinking, the court heard.

Spencer-Cairns hit Ms Happs three times in the stomach with a dining knife and grabbed her around the throat.

As he left the house, Ms Happs threw a vase at him through an open window, and he picked up a metal bar, smashing a window and causing damage estimated to cost more than £260 to repair.

Spencer-Cairns was ordered to pay compensation of £268.70 to Yorkshire Housing. No order was made for costs.