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A jealous lawyer drunkenly chased his girlfriend around Mayfair and spat in her face after she walked out on his birthday party, a court heard.

Matt Owen, 33, flew into a rage when Rachel Croft-Roberts stormed out of after a boozy bottomless brunch at a five star Brown's hotel.

Owen, who works for Deloitte, followed Ms Croft-Roberts down the road screaming at her about 'other men'.

He grabbed his girlfriend by the wrists and then spat in her face.

Owen left distressed Ms Croft-Roberts crying in the street before returning shouting obscenities and again grabbing hold of her and again spitting in her face.

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When Ms Croft-Roberts saw him coming back a third time she was so scared she hid in a doorway until he had gone.

Ms Croft-Roberts, who works as an office administrator for creative advertising and PR agency Kindred, told police this was not the first time Owen had attacked her in their three month relationship.

She said he violently pulled her out of bed by her ankles while on holiday in April in a fury about her uploading pictures of herself to social media.

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Owen, wearing a smart grey suit, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today having pleaded guilty to one court of assault by beating.

He was sentenced to an 18-month community order including a 40-day 'Building Better Relationships' program, a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and 40 hours unpaid work.

Prosecutor Carly Loftus said Ms Croft-Roberts had been in a relationship with Owen for three months at the time the attack on June 17 this year.

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"On the 17th of June at 5pm the couple arranged to go out for the day to celebrate the defendant's birthday," said Ms Loftus.

"This comprised of a bottomless brunch a Brown's Hotel and they then continued drinking at nearby The King's Head pub.

"There they had a verbal argument which resulted in Ms Croft-Roberts leaving, this made the defendant very upset about her leaving on his birthday and showing no affection towards him.

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"The defendant managed to catch up with her outside a building on the nearby Albemarle Road.

"He grabbed hold of her wrists and spat directly in her face, spittle hit her eyes and nose."

Magistrate Alexia Fetherstonhaugh said: "This was a drawn-out and very abusive scenario and you were drunk at the time.

"It must have been very distressing for the victim."



(Image: central news)

Owen, of Buckinghamshire admitted to assault by beating.

As well as the 18-month community order, he was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.