A MAN who admitted punching his former girlfriend during a Boxing Day row outside a Poole bar will not serve any time behind bars.

Shane Barney, 25, of Milborne Crescent, Poole, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Judge Nicholas Rowland bailed him to reappear at Southampton Crown Court, next month, where he will be sentenced - but Barney will not face an immediate prison term.

Judge Rowland said: "All options will be open save from an immediate custodial sentence." But he warned: "Refuse to co-operate with the probation service and all bets are off."

Tattooed Barney, who appeared in the dock with his lower left arm in a plaster cast, only spoke to confirm his name, his plea and that he understood he'd been bailed to reappear at a later date.

He'll be sentenced after the probation service prepares a pre-sentence report.

Barney was convicted of attacking mother-of-one Charmaine King, leaving her with permanent facial scarring.

After the incident Miss King told the Echo: "I don't often go out - it was only because it was a special occasion.

"It has left me feeling like I never want to leave the house again."

The 22-year-old qualified beauty therapist sustained a deep cut, which required seven stitches, just a few centimetres above her right eye.

The assault, which took place in the alleyway next to Yates' Wine Bar around midnight on Boxing Day 2014, followed an argument between Miss King and a woman who was with Barney at the time.

Miss King said: "There was an argument but it had ended. Then he turned around and hit me. I didn't know he was coming up to me. I just fell to the floor."

Miss King was taken to hospital following the attack and released later that night.