Liverpool footballer Jon Flanagan has been sentenced to a 12-month community order for assaulting his girlfriend on a night out.

Flanagan, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this month to the common assault by beating of Rachael Wall, with whom he had been in a relationship for 18 months. Liverpool crown court heard on Wednesday that the couple were now back together.

The court was shown CCTV footage, taken from outside the Il Forno restaurant, of the “prolonged attack”, which took place on Duke Street in Liverpool city centre at about 3.20am on Friday 22 December.

It showed Flanagan hitting Wall before pushing her against a wall twice and then kicking her. The district judge, Wendy Lloyd, declined a request by Wall that the footage not be played in open court.

Lloyd sentenced Flanagan on Wednesday to the community order, which will include 15 rehabilitation activity days, 40 hours of unpaid work, £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Speaking to the footballer, she said: “You are, of course, a young man of previous good character and therefore it’s undoubtedly sad that you have brought yourself here by your behaviour.”

Lloyd said the attack was not just a single act. “It was a matter of this lady going to the floor twice and you used your foot on her on one occasion,” she said. “The lady was seen to have injuries but, of course, she said she does not attribute those injuries to you.”

Alan Currums, prosecuting, said a witness had seen the incident from his flat. He said: “The witness stated he had seen the male throw the female against the wall and then kick her while she was on the floor.”

He said the man saw Flanagan place one hand on his partner’s neck and one on her throat before he “slammed her against the wall”. The witness said he shouted from his balcony to Flanagan that he was “out of order” and the footballer replied: “Shut the fuck up, dickhead. I’ll come and knock you out.”

Lionel Greig, mitigating, said the incident was short but unpleasant. He said Flanagan was not proud of what had happened and had not enjoyed the “negative press intrusion” following it. Greig said: “He deeply regrets his behaviour and there is genuine remorse.”

Greig said both parties were under the influence of alcohol at the time and there was no suggestion there had been any previous violence in the relationship. He said: “They are back together and working very hard at the relationship and supporting one another.”

Flanagan made his debut for Liverpool aged 18. Speaking after the sentencing, a spokesman for the club said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the player’s actions during the events that took place resulting in this criminal conviction.

“It leaves his own reputation damaged and, through association, he has severely let down the club he had previously represented with distinction. We have expressed to him our disappointment and anger that he has failed to live up to the values of Liverpool Football Club, in this specific instance.

“The club has allowed the legal formalities to reach a conclusion before deciding on or implementing any internal disciplinary action. That internal process will now begin.”