James Argent has pleaded guilty to “mistreating” his beauty queen girlfriend Nicoline Artursson during an argument in Spain.
The former TOWIE star, 37, pushed the former Miss Sweden, 32, down the stairs at her apartment in Costa del Sol last Monday while trying to force her out of the front door, The Sun reported.
Artursson is believed to have tumbled down two steps outside her home, with her shouts alerting neighbours who called the police.
The model, who had dated Argent for nine months, reportedly needed hospital treatment, although the extent of her injuries is not known.
Argent was arrested shortly after the incident on May 5 and kept in a cell for several hours. He admitted a domestic violence charge when he was brought before a judge at Fuengirola’s Court of Violence Against Women.
The ITV reality star was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting or approaching Artursson.
Argent was also told to complete a “resocialisation course in the field of gender violence”. Artursson was believed to have been in court to hear Argent admit the charge.
She has remained in Spain while Argent has flown back to Essex, according to The Sun.
A friend told the outlet he is “extremely sorry”, adding: “He said he had a row with Nicoline and that he tried to end the argument. James said he pushed Nicoline and that she fell.
“He is remorseful about what happened but is insisting he never meant any harm.”
Argent’s representative declined to comment when contacted by The Standard.
Argent confirmed his relationship with Artursson last September, with the pair taking part in an OK! magazine joint interview a month later.
They revealed they met outside a supermarket in Marbella and were now living together at Argent’s home in Essex and looking to start a family.
Recalling their first meeting, he said: “All of a sudden I see this woman coming towards me. I was like, ‘Wow, she’s beautiful.’
“She was just in her gym clothes, wearing no make-up. She’d actually just fed a stray cat. We both smiled and kind of giggled at each other. And Nicoline carried on walking.
“Then I thought, ‘What have I got to lose?’ So I turned around and said, ‘Hey.’”
He paid tribute to the model on Valentine’s Day, sharing a series of photos and videos of them together on Instagram.
“My Swedish Valentine. Our next Chapter has begone and I’m so excited for what’s to come this year! I love you,” he wrote.
She commented on the post: “I love you and I love us. Excited for what’s next to come.”
