A MAN who punched his girlfriend during a row as he drove to work has been ordered to pay her £100 compensation.

Darren Blythe, a 19-yeear-old fitter, of Hillsborough Drive, Unsworth, Bury, was also fined £50 and ordered to pay £118 court costs by Rochdale magistrates after he admitted assaulting Natalie Kilburn.

Miss Nichola Docker, prosecuting, said that Kilburn complained that she had been hit five times on the arm but Blythe insisted he had only punched her donce. But she had sustained bruising and she was left in tears.

The police were informed and Blythe admitted that he had punched his ex-girlfriend, but said it was only once on the arm.