A woman was left with bruising to her face and arms when she was punched several times by her partner after a night out.
Retired music teacher Robert Calderbank was returning to Long Eaton with his partner before the incident took place.
Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court heard Calderbank made a comment about his partner's nails being fake, just like she was, on the journey, Derbyshire Live reports.
The court heard the 58-year-old then began punching her and pinned her down on the sofa.
She was left with bruising to her face, arms and her top was ripped during the incident – but it was revealed the pair have since got back together.
Magistrates who presided over the case handed Calderbank a community order for his actions.
The court heard the incident took place on August 4, in Long Eaton.
Sarah Sanderson, prosecuting, said: “They had been out in Nottingham and had been drinking.
“The defendant made some comment about the victim’s nails saying something along the lines of your nails are fake, just like you. She didn’t know what he meant by that.
“She had not responded at all and he got in her face shouting abuse at her. She pushed him away and he kept coming forward. She has hit him in order to get him away. He has continued to hit her.”
The court heard how he pinned her down on the sofa and she couldn’t get him off her. He continued to punch her.
Ms Sanderson said he has then punched her seven times to the face and ripped her top. He then stopped punching her and went on to say it was "all her fault".
Photographs were shown in court concerning the victim’s injuries which showed bruising to her face and arms.
The victim had written a statement concerning the incident which was read out by Ms Sanderson.
It said the victim was “scared”, that she thought she could trust him and that she didn’t think he could do anything like that.
The court heard Calderbank was of previous good character.
James Close, mitigating, said: “He should get credit for his guilty plea. He is 58-years-old and a retired teacher with no previous convictions.
“It was out of character for him. He said he used the back of his hand to hit her."
Calderbank, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by beating.
Magistrates handed him an 18-month community order which included 100 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was then ordered to pay £150 in compensation, court costs of £85 and a £90 victim surcharge. This took his total to pay to £325.
