Asylum seeker who beat girlfriend spared jail

An asylum seeker from Nottingham who beat up his partner in the street early on New Year's Day has been given a community order.

Marvelous Manzini punched and kicked partner Rudo Muchirahondo outside a party when she refused to get in his car.

Although the victim did not want to go ahead with the prosecution, Manzini pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

Derby Crown Court heard how the 35-year-old, from Zimbabwe had argued with his girlfriend, of four years at the New Year's Eve party in Sinfin, Derby.

The pair had gone outside and when she would not get in the car, he squeezed her throat.She fell to the pavement and later told police Manzini had kicked her "five or six times".

A witness also saw him punch her in the head.

Sherrall Pickford, prosecuting, said Manzini did not have a "clear recollection" of what happened but admitted kicking and punching his girlfriend "more than once".

Miss Pickford told the court Miss Muchirahondo suffered swelling to her face and her left hand had to be put in a splint.She said Manzini had no history of domestic violence.

His only previous conviction was for a traffic offence in 2004.

In mitigation, Nicola Hornby said Manzini handed himself in to police in Nottingham the next day.

She told the court he was "disgraced" by his behaviour and was now back with Miss Muchirahondo.

Judge Hillary Watson gave Manzini, of Greaves Close, Broxtowe, a community order with supervision for 12 months and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.