Andrei Pavel had splashed out on an engagement ring and bunch of flowers to surprise girlfriend Andrea Nagy at her workplace

A 25-year-old man punched his girlfriend in the face when she turned down his marriage proposal.

Andrei Pavel had splashed out on an engagement ring and bunch of flowers to surprise girlfriend Andrea Nagy at her workplace.

But when she rejected him he lost his temper and punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground.

Pavel, who has no previous convictions, was arrested and told police officers he was upset at being rebuffed.

The defendant, from Stoke-on-Trent, has been banned from contacting his victim for a year after pleading guilty to assault by beating.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Pavel and Miss Nagy had been in an 'intense' relationship for three months and had moved in together before hitting a rocky patch.

But Pavel was eager to get things back on track and arrived unannounced at Miss Nagy's workplace on July 21 to propose.

Prosecutor Ruth Bentley said: 'She described the relationship as intense.

'She moved in with him after two months but the relationship broke down and they split up.

'Since that time he had been contacting her via texts. He did not want the relationship to end. He was trying to get it back on track, and even purchased a ring and asked her to marry him.

'She was handed a note at work, which said the defendant wanted to speak to her. She met the defendant who was waiting outside with a bunch of flowers.'

After a rocky patch in their relationship Pavel was eager to get things back on track and arrived unannounced at Miss Nagy's workplace on July 21 to propose

The court heard Pavel proposed to Miss Nagy but she rejected him.

Ms Bentley added: 'He punched her to the face, knocking her to the floor for a matter of seconds. She was left with an injury to her face.'

The court heard Miss Nagy was scared of the defendant and described him as jealous and controlling.

Andrew Bennett, mitigating, said it was a single punch and that Pavel accepted there was no future in the relationship.

Magistrates sentenced Pavel to a 12-month community order with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation, £135 costs and an £85 surcharge.

He was made the subject of a 12-month restraining order which prevents him having any contact with his victim.

Chairman of the bench Philip Taylor said: 'This assault was serious. It was in a domestic violence context. The injuries sustained were significant. You went to her place of work.

'She made it clear to you she was not interested in any further relationship or union with you. It was an unprovoked attack by you.'