An Isle of Wight man told a takeaway worker he would cut her "like kebab meat" and punched his girlfriend, a court heard.

Jack Taylor, of Captains Parade, East Cowes appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on January 19.

He was due to stand trial on January 18 but failed to show and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

In his absence, he was found guilty of assault by beating, and using threatening and abusive words to cause alarm or distress.

The court heard how, on March 29, 2023, Taylor, 25, got into an argument with his girlfriend outside Ephesus Pizza and Grill, on Newport High Street.

He told her he was going to punch her, Liz Miller, prosecuting, said.

A staff member tried to intervene, before Taylor shouted homophobic slurs and said "I'm going to cut you up like the kebab meat".

The court heard how Taylor proceeded to grab his girlfriend and "whack her head and continue to punch her".

When told by staff to leave, Taylor threatened "I'm going to slash you in a minute", before finally walking away.

A staff member's victim statement was read out and the court heard how the experience was "scary" and had left her feeling "unsafe".

Defending, Barry Keel, said Taylor had got the date of his trial "mixed up" and said he had been drinking at the time of the incident, calling it out of character.

The case was adjourned to March 8, for a pre-sentence report.