A BOYFRIEND has admitted attacking his former partner and escaping from police custody.

Michael Holpin, aged 22, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm against his ex-girlfriend last summer in the Abertillery area.

He also admitted taking her Vauxhall Corsa car without authority and driving with no insurance.

The offences were committed last August.

Holpin pleaded not guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, the theft of his ex’s mobile phone and damaging her property by smashing her windows.

Prosecutor Andrew Davies told the court his pleas were acceptable and that he would not be pursuing the other charges to trial.

Holpin, who appeared in court via video link from Parc Prison in Bridgend, told the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Eleri Rees that in relation to the assault charge, he accepted slapping her to the face.

Mr Davies told the court that the complainant has claimed he punched her to the right cheek to cause bruising.

He said he will be contacting the victim and a trial of issue could be held in seven days to contest Holpin’s basis of plea.

Jonathan Jones, representing the defendant, said the offences took place after a “row over some time” after the couple’s relationship had deteriorated.

He said he was not be asking for a pre-sentence report to be prepared for his client.

Judge Rees adjourned the case and Holpin was remanded in custody.

His address to the court was given as Parc Prison, Heol Hopcyn John, Coity, Bridgend.