A 'controlling' man who has twice assaulted his girlfriend has had a restraining order banning him from contacting her lifted by a judge.

When Anthony Neskovich was spared prison last September he was told to keep away from the woman for two years after she told police it was over.

But despite the order the 25-year-old, who would get angry with Charlotte Millward if she smiled at male customers at work, has been reunited with her.

Now, after she told Swindon Crown Court the restriction was not needed, Judge Peter Blair QC lifted it, but warned Neskovich he faced jail if he assaulted her again.

"If you are to put a foot out of line as far as Miss Millward is concerned you will be back in front of me," he said.

"In the circumstances I am minded to lift the restraining order with a reminder to Mr Neskovich should there be a repetition of his hotheadedness and violence there will be prison."

Earlier Miss Millward sobbed as she asked for the restraining order, which can result in a five-year jail term if it is breached, to be lifted.

"I believe that we have both realised the consequences of our actions. We have had this time to reflect on the decisions we have made," she said.

"We are both taking a step back to concentrate on ourselves. I am currently getting help from my GP and counselling."

Neskovich said he had yet to start the Building Better Relationships programme with the probation service which was imposed as part of his sentence.

He said: "I have just been focussing on myself and getting my licence back from the mistakes I have made.

"I understand that we are two sets of people, we fell in love, let things go. It just went wrong, went wrong twice."

The music technology student said: "I believe in us, I just believe we need to focus on what we are doing."

Colin Meeke, for the Crown, said the restraining order was imposed after Neskovich admitted assaulting Miss Millward for a second time.

He said although the first incident, in November 2013, had been reported to the police the defendant was not prosecuted as he apologised and she wanted him back.

But by last July, after they had been together for about a year, she was so fed up with him being possessive and jealous that she finished it with him.

"He stopped her seeing friends, wanted all the time to be together, stopped her seeing family," he said.

"He would come to her place of work checking up on her. If she smiled at male customers he would take offence."

Ending the relationship she allowed him to sleep downstairs at her house before moving out but woke to find him in bed next to her.

As she was getting ready for work he attacked her, putting an hands around her throat, causing her to flee the building.

When police arrived soon after he was abusive to her, shouted he was going to 'ring his mum' and then shut her arm in the door before fleeing out of a window.

Neskovich, of Stamford Close, Freshbrook, admitted two common assaults and was put on a six-month jail term suspended for two years with supervision and told him to pay each victim £150 compensation as well as the restraining order.