Rob GarrattA dancer at a Norwich nightclub was punched in the face repeatedly by her flatmate because she failed to do the washing up, a court heard.Rob Garratt

A dancer at a Norwich nightclub was punched in the face repeatedly by her flatmate because she failed to do the washing up, a court heard.

Matias Marquez Murua admitted a charge of assault after a court heard how he attacked and injured his flatmate following a domestic dispute over kitchen cleanliness.

He punched nightclub dancer Indra Saulinskyte in the face several times, slammed her head against a wall and pulled out her hair extensions, Norwich Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Ms Saulinskyte returned from her job as a dancer at Havana nightclub on March 1 and was met by abuse from Marquez Maura, who was born in Spain but has lived in the UK for 10 years, who said she woke him up.

The court heard she cooked a meal but failed to clean up after herself, prompting a violent fight during which the dancer, who is trained in martial arts, punched him in the face cracking two of his teeth.

Ms Saulinskyte was left with a bruised and swollen cheekbone, a red and bruised forehead and pain to her head where her extensions were pulled out.

Prosecutor Richard Paterson said her injuries 'may or may not have affected her employment as a dancer at Havana.'

In mitigation, Ryan Creek said the defendant claimed Ms Saulinskyte threw the first punch, and told the court that she was only staying in Marquez Maura's one-bed bedsit as 'an act of kindness,' which the guest had abused by coming in late at night and inviting round drunken friends.

He also told how Marquez Maura suffers paranoid aggressive schizophrenia and receives regular injections to combat the condition.

Marquez Maura was sentenced to complete 80 hours unpaid work and pay court costs of �85.

Presiding magistrate Paul Allen said: 'The court doesn't take kindly to anyone waving fists at anyone.'