A crack cocaine user who beat his partner in front of her teenage daughter has been ordered to attend an anti-violence project.

Hairdresser Mark Horton, 23, of no fixed abode, had been living with mother-of-two Rachel Kimber when problems in the relationship began.

Nikki Duncan, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court yesterday that the defendant and Miss Kimber, who also uses crack cocaine, had a row on July 17.

As the victim left for work, Horton pulled her jacket and punched her in the face.

Three days later, after further rows, Horton repeatedly punched Miss Kimber in the face but he denies kicking her while she was on the ground.

Nigel Daly, defending, said his client had tried to get Miss Kimber, who had a worse drug problem, to cut down.

Mr Daly said his client had expressed remorse.

Judge Mary Jane Mowat said: "If you had not spent three months in custody on remand I would sentence you to prison.

"Violence like this against a partner is as serious, if not more serious, than against a member of the public who happens to get into a fight.

"It is even more serious when children witness what's going on."

Horton was also sentenced to an 18-month community rehabilitation order. He had admitted charges of common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm.