AN ILMINSTER man who rowed with his ex over a family matter and elbowed her in the face has been sentenced to an eight week curfew order following a trial.

The court heard that Daniel Roy Rogers went round to the victim’s home and after an argument erupted he assaulted her.

The assault left the victim with a bruise under her eye.

The 27-year-old defendant, of Orchard Vale, Ilminster, initially denied assaulting his former partner by beating her during the incident on September 13.

However he admitted the offence on the day he was due to stand trial before Somerset Magistrates.

The court was told that the couple had been in a relationship for two and a half years and had split in October 2014.

The defendant was currently subject to a community order imposed by the same court last November.

Rogers went to the victim’s address in Chard as part of family contact arrangements but the court heard that when his former partner objected he became angry.

“They started to argue and during the altercation Rogers recklessly caused his elbow to connect with her face by her left eye causing a small bruise to her face,” said prosecutor Julyan Stephens.

In a victim impact statement made by the complainant his former partner said that she did not want Rogers around any more.

The defendant told the magistrates that he wanted to apologise for what happened.

He said: “I had made arrangements the day before that I would go round her house at that time but when I arrived she started going mad at me.”

Rogers was sentenced to a community order. This includes a curfew requirement that during the eight week period he must remain at his home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am daily.

Rogers was also ordered to be fitted with an electronic tag.

They also made him subject to a six month restraining order where he must not contact the victim except via Social Services or one other named person.