THREE passers-by came to the rescue of a woman who was being kicked repeatedly by her former boyfriend, Worcester Magistrates Court heard.

Christopher Draper, aged 22, was yesterday ordered to pay Karen McElhinney £100 compensation after admitting to assaulting her on two separate occasions.

Helen Harmeston, prosecuting, said the first incident happened on Sunday, November 23, 2003, near Worcester's Odeon Cinema, in Foregate Street.

The couple had gone into the cinema but following an argument, Miss McElhinney left.

Shortly afterwards, the pair bumped into each other near the cinema and began arguing again. This time Draper, from Broadwas, near Worcester, pushed her, causing her to bump her head.

The second incident happened on Friday, December 5, 2003.

Miss McElhinney, who had since ended the relationship, received a phone call from Draper asking her to meet him.

She invited him out with her friends to the Beauchamp Arms pub, Worcester Road, Malvern Link, but once there Draper began drinking heavily, causing her to feel uncomfortable and eventually leave.

"As she left the premises, he began to shout at her," said Miss Harmeston.

"She said that she could not take his behaviour and every time she tried to walk away he followed her.

"Then he lost his temper and pushed her against the wall, then pulled her towards him and pushed her against the wall again.

"During the scuffle he fell over and pulled her down as well and in doing so twisted her arm. When she was on the floor he kicked her three times."

Miss Harmeston said that at that point, a car that happened to be passing pulled up and the three female occupants pushed Draper away and took Miss McElhinney home.

Mark Lister, defending, said his client, who admitted to the charges of common assault and assault by beating at a previous court appearance, found it difficult to come to terms with the break-up of the relationship.

"He had been seeking treatment from his GP from depression. He accepts, and is very ashamed, of the injuries he caused," said Mr Lister.

Draper was also sentenced to a 60-hour community punishment order and a 12-month community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay costs of £43.