A woman punched her ex-partner several times in the head, leaving him with cuts, scratches and bruises to the face, a court heard.

Cherie Raby, 32, pleaded guilty to an offence of assault by beating when she appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Rupert Myers, prosecuting, said the offence happened on February 13 at an address in Bethel Street, near St Giles Street, Norwich, where her ex-partner lived.

Mr Myers said the victim was punched in the head and face by Raby, of Half Mile Close, off Mile Cross Road, Norwich, 'some 20 to 30 times' causing injuries to the head and face, including scratches and bruises.

Mr Myers said Raby, who accepted punching her ex-partner two to three times, then 'took a knife and threatened her victim with a knife' which led to him sustaining a hand injury as he tried to disarm her, although this version of events was not accepted by the defendant.

Mr Myers said the victim has known Raby, who has a two-and-a-half-year-old son, for about three-and-a-half years and was helping her when the incident occurred.

He said she punched the victim with the 'clenched fists of both hands' forcing him to 'roll up like a ball'.

David Foulkes, mitigating, said Raby 'presented herself at the police station to be intervi-ewed in respect of this matter in the early hours of the morning'.

He said: 'She accepts she lost her temper and doesn't seek to argue there was any element of self-defence or anything of that nature.

'What is accepted is there were three punches to the head and face area and the injuries that are shown in the photographs are as a consequence of the assault. Any allegation of involvement of the knife is denied and any injury caused by the knife to a hand is also denied.'

Mr Foulkes said Raby, who was pregnant, has had a 'somewhat chequered past' with 'quite a history of offending' but has 'made significant steps to sort herself out'.

The case was adjourned until March 22 so probation can prepare a report ahead of sentencing.

Raby was granted bail on the condition she does not contact her ex-partner in any way and does not attend his house in Bethel Street unless accompanied by a police officer.

The court heard she must also have �120 of outstanding fines deducted from her benefits.