A MAN in a 'toxic' relationship has been sentenced for assaulting his girlfriend while she was asleep and spitting in her face during an argument.

Aaron Bell, of Ramsden Street, Barrow, was sentenced at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to two counts of assault by beating on November 6 when magistrates ordered for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

On that occasion, the court heard the 29-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of other offences when the allegations were made by the complainant.

The court heard the victim told officers: "He (Bell) has hit me on the back of the head when I was asleep in bed on November 1."

The complainant also disclosed to police that the defendant had spat in her face and threw a lampshade at her following a drunken argument on November 4, prosecutor Peter Kelly said.

READ MORE: Man, 49, punched girlfriend to back of her head whilst she was asleep in bed

On November 27, the court was told Bell breached the terms of his domestic violence protection order.

The prosecutor described the assault as a ‘reckless push’ to the back of the head.

In mitigation, Trystan Roberts said the couple had been in an ‘on-and-off relationship for five years’.

Mr Roberts said: “He was angry and accepts he has caused her some distress. My client admits he pushed her to the back of the head but insists he did not punch her. It is not a blow.

“He also says that the spittle landed on her during an argument and that there was no deliberate spitting. She has not suffered any injuries as a result to the assault to the back of the head.”

Magistrates described the relationship as ‘toxic’ when sentencing Bell to an 18-month community order with requirements to complete 35 rehabilitation requirement days, 26 sessions of an accredited program, as well as 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge.