A JEALOUS restaurant worker who attacked his girlfriend with a belt before trying to put it round her neck has been spared jail – after a court heard how his victim wanted him back.

Tapiwa Sichinga, 19, from Shirley Road, Bournemouth, admitted assaulting Samantha Peacock, causing her actual bodily harm.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Desmond Duffy said Sichinga and Miss Peacock, 22, had been involved in a one-and-a-half-year relationship when violence flared.

“When she returned following a night out, without him, he became really angry.

“He took off his belt and started using it to hit her. She tried to leave the bedroom, he blocked her way and formed a loop with the belt, trying to put it hit over her head and round her neck,” he said.

“She put her arms up and succeeded in stopping him. Miss Peacock suffered bruising.

“When her mother saw the injuries, it was agreed that the police should be informed and Mr Sichinga was arrested.

“Miss Peacock said she didn’t want Mr Sichinga to go to court; she would rather he had help for his anger.”

Defending, Jonathon Simpson said his client had never been in trouble before and was “genuinely apologetic”.

He added: “This was a loving relationship; it was early morning and he had fretted all night about her whereabouts.

“His mind played tricks on him and he became jealous. Then his anger got the better of him.

“Miss Peacock wishes for loving, future relations.

“Mr Sichinga is not ready to run back into her arms.”

Sentencing Sichinga, Judge Roger Jarvis told him: “This was, by any measure, a very serious offence.

“It could have been very much more serious.

“You used a weapon and it went round your victim’s neck.

“There is far too much domestic violence; it can have an erosive and corrosive effect on those who are the victims.”

He imposed a 12-month community order with the condition that Sichinga completes 200 hours unpaid work, observes a 9pm to 5am curfew for six months, is electronically tagged and attends an education training and employment course.