The career of a disgraced deputy town mayor and district councillor hangs in the balance after he was convicted of attacking a former partner.

Thomas Monument, 36, deputy mayor of Dereham, was found guilty of head butting and punching his ex-girlfriend at her Norwich home when he went to collect some things after their 18 month relationship had come to an end.

Norwich Magistrates Court heard the victim was punched twice, headbutted once and picked up off the floor and 'slammed into the wardrobe' during the attack on September 11.

Monument, who is also a Breckland district councillor for Dereham Withburga ward, had claimed he was 'terrified for my life' during the incident and acted in self-defence when she attacked him after he ended their relationship.

But his version of events was rejected by city magistrates who found him guilty of assault.

Monument, previously of Greenfields Road, Dereham, put his hands to his face and broke down in tears as the verdict was announced.

A statement read out on behalf of the victim by Chris Youell, prosecuting, heard the attack had left her 'scared' and added she was 'petrified of Thomas' and never wanted anything to do with him again.

Monument was sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order.

He was also ordered to complete up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, ordered to pay the victim £300 compensation and £100 costs.

He was also made the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim for 12 months.

Earlier on Monday (December 4) the court heard from the victim who gave evidence via videolink.

She said they had split up after he had told her he did not love her and never had feelings for her.

She said she had felt 'emotionally played', 'raw', 'upset' and 'confused'.

She admitted she kept asking for answers from him but he was 'emotionless'.

The complainant, who felt degraded, devalued, said she started shouting and shoved him on the shoulder.

It was at this point she said she was attacked.

She said: 'He headbutted me in the face. It was just after I shoved him.'

The complainant, who broke down while giving evidence, said she fell to the floor.

She said: 'He picked me up off the floor and slammed me into the wardrobe.'

The court heard she was then picked up and slammed onto the bed.

She said: 'He was angry. He was shouting.

'My arms were everywhere. I was trying to get him off of me.'

While on the bed the complainant said she was punched twice in the face.

She said: 'It was hard. I felt a bit dazed.'

She then described how she grabbed the bedroom door after being dragged across the floor by her ankles by Monument.

She said: 'I actually thought he was going to pull me down the stairs.'

The complainant, who is trained in martial arts, said she never got a chance to implement any of her training during the incident.

The woman, who admits having two previous police cautions for assaults, called a friend about the incident.

It was the friend who called police.

A spokesperson for Dereham Town Council said: 'This is a personal matter and as and when we know the facts we will react to it.'