AN angry man who sees things in 'black and white' because of his autism threw cold coffee at his former partner and hit her with a bag containing harmonicas.

Richard Monk, of Arboretum Road, Worcester admitted assault by beating against his now former partner following a row over the couple not being invited for Christmas dinner.

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The 34-year-old appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to the assault and criminal damage to a wall on December 1 last year after he became angry on her behalf because the couple had not been invited to spend Christmas Day with her parents.

Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said: "This offence was committed in a background of domestic violence. The defendant was arguing because the victim'sparents had not invited her over for Christmas Day."

During the assault he 'threw a cup of cold coffee at her' which hit the wall and furniture (the criminal damage offence). "He hit the complainant in the head with a sturdy rectangular bag containing a couple of harmonicas," said Miss Peart.

In self-defence, she kicked out at the defendant and he kicked her while wearing leather boots which connected with her right thigh.

"The defendant is heard to say 'stop winding me up, stop digging and trying to get me going'," said Miss Peart.

Though Monk was arrested, his partner later refused to provide a statement. She said she lived with him and 'most of the time things are good between them' and told them Monk had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

It was considered an aggravating feature that he used a shod foot to kick the victim.

Jo Outhwaite, defending, said Monk 'has integrity'. His relationship with his partner was 'no longer in existence', she said.

"She had her own difficulties and he has been diagnosed as having Asperger's syndrome which makes things difficult for him. He deals with situations in a slightly different way.

"He was trying to stick up for his partner - there had been the absence of an invitation for them to her parents' Christmas dinner. He sees things very much in black and white."

Magistrates fined him £300 and ordered him to make a contribution to costs of £135. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £34.

No order was made for compensation and no separate penalty was imposed for the criminal damage.