Mitchell To Attend Domestic Violence Programme For Attacking Girlfriend

The Scottish keyboard player was arrested and charged with causing actual bodily harm last July (09), following an alcohol-fuelled argument at Olivia Warren's home in Fulham, south-west London.

He initially pleaded not guilty to the count, but subsequently changed his plea in May (10), just hours before he was due to stand trial for the offence.

Mitchell, 44, returned to Kingston Crown Court in Surrey, England on Monday (14Jun10), and the disgraced star used the opportunity to express his apologies via his lawyer, Jill Evans.

She told the court, "He accepts that he punched a woman in the face and that is something that he is deeply ashamed of."

Judge Shani Barnes sentenced Mitchell to a two-year community order and ordered him to attend domestic violence classes for the attack, in which Warren suffered a black eye and bruised shoulder.

Delivering the sentence, Barnes told Mitchell, "It is shameful that you should come before the courts at all - let alone for using such violence against your partner.

"I have no doubt that you are a mild-mannered, gentle man by nature (but) domestic violence is never acceptable, even if the young woman gave as good as she got; the injuries she sustained were far more impactful than anything she could have done to you."