A FATHER-OF-TWO has been given a community order after he allegedly hit his partner when she found out he had been texting other women.

Richard Talukdar, 33, of Yeats Close, appeared before Swindon magistrates on Friday charged with one count of assault by beating on January 3.

At a hearing on January 20 he entered a guilty plea although his partner – who he has been in a relationship with for 15 years – has since withdrawn support for the prosecution.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said Talukdar’s partner found he had been texting and sending intimate photos of himself to women. He denied any wrongdoing.

She created a fake account on a sex site and, after sending him messages, to which he responded, she confronted him with her suspicions.

During an altercation about these the assault took place.

The chairman of the bench, Geoff Earl, gave him a 12-month community order with 20 days rehabilitation requirement, plus 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.