A 24-year-old prisoner from Newtown has appeared before the court again after admitting assaulting a woman and causing criminal damage to her door.

Daniel William Hughes appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court via video link from HMP Berwyn on Tuesday, October 12, where he pleaded guilty to the two offences.

The court heard that at around 12.30am on July 4 police were alerted after a neighbour heard a noise that sounded like a someone was being beaten.

Helen Tench, prosecution, said that Hughes had pushed his victim, and as she tried to leave and he the grabbed the back of her head. “As long as I don’t leave a mark, it didn’t happen,” Hughes said.

The court also heard that Hughes kicked the victim in the chest leaving her “breathless and shocked”. He kicked a door leaving a big hole which caused £60-worth of damage.

During a police interview, Hughes said he kicked the door in anger but said he lightly pushed the victim after alleging that she had slapped him in the face.

Paul Inns, defending, told the court that Hughes “regrets his behaviour and wishes to apologise and that the incident should not have happened”.

Mr Inns said on behalf of Hughes that there had been a “series of offences in a short period of time. It’s clear that his head was in a bad place at that time” with excessive drinking, mental health and anger management issues.

“He recognises the need to resolve these. You will be pleased to hear that he is willing to co-operate with probation to address this behaviour”.

Magistrates sentenced Hughes to eight weeks in custody for assault by beating and two weeks for criminal damage which will run concurrently with a prison sentence that he is currently serving at HMP Berwyn for actual bodily harm and dangerous driving.

He was also ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge when he is released from prison. Chair of Magistrates Judith Barker told Hughes that a five-year restraining order preventing any contact with his victim was sufficient.