A former Big Brother contestant has been spared jail for slapping and punching his girlfriend in an alcohol-fuelled rage.
Rex Newmark, 33, beat Emma Blackman at the Beach Blanket Babylon restaurant in Shoreditch, east London, where he works as an executive chef.
Newmark appeared in Big Brother 9 in 2008 and finished in fourth place, losing out to eventual winner Rachel Rice.
CCTV footage captured Newmark pushing and slapping his girlfriend, then locking her head between his legs and punching her in the stomach.
Rex Newmark, 33, beat Emma Blackman at the Beach Blanket Babylon restaurant in Shoreditch, east London. They are pictured here leaving court together
Newmark appeared in Big Brother 9 in 2008 and finished in fourth place, losing out to eventual winner Rachel Rice
One of the blows caused Miss Blackman’s head to to jerk backwards.
Elizabeth Ajayi, prosecuting, said the incident took place at 10.30am on April 14 this year.
She told the court: ‘A member of the public called the police, noticing an argument between a man and a woman.
‘Police attended and the woman identified the defendant to the police. They noticed she appeared to be concerned about getting her boyfriend into trouble.
‘He was surprised as to why he was arrested. He denied assaulting Emma Blackman.
‘He said she made the allegations to get at him. He said he had an argument but did not assault her.
‘She has not provided with a statement but that does not minimise what happened. It’s a sustained attack, it’s not a matter that happened in one moment.’
Newmark admitted assault by beating at Stratford Magistrates’ Court after watching CCTV footage of the attack.
Defending Newmark, Tessa Shroff said both parties were drunk at the time of the incident.
Newmark, pictured outside court with Miss Blackman, admitted assault by beating. He was sentenced to a 12 month community order, with 100 hours unpaid work and handed a £485 fine
Newmark, pictured on Big Brother, admitted assault by beating at Stratford Magistrates’ Court after watching CCTV footage of the attack
She said Newmark had been head-butted by an assailant in the bar the previous evening.
‘We know for a fact that he had been the victim of a violent head-butt,’ she told the court.
‘Miss Blackman says this was out of character for him, with whom she hopes to have a future.
‘He has already found himself well on his way to ensuring nothing like this ever happens again.’
Newmark pictured second from right, when he was 24, with his fellow Big Brother contestants
Magistrate Peter Dawe said: ‘This is a regrettable incident which was alcohol-fuelled.
‘We cannot ignore what is a serious incident, and in particular we note that your assault was sustained, there’s clearly pushing and slapping to the victim of your assault.
‘We noted two distinct blows and the leg lock around her head.’
Newmark, from Hampstead in London, admitted assault by beating.
He was sentenced to a 12 month community order, with 100 hours unpaid work and handed a £485 fine.
Newmark left court with Miss Blackman after the hearing.