A 23-year-old Sandys Parish man received a $500 fine at Magistrates' Court after admitting to slapping his then-girlfriend across the face with an open hand.

Crown counsel Takiya Burgess told the court that Shannon Eugene Rayner, of Patience Avenue, was approached by the mother of his baby, Michelle Smith at the Gombey Resturant and Bar, at Clearwater Beach, on July 1, 2007.

She had spotted him and pulled him aside to discuss child support payments.

An argument followed, later escalating, with the two engaging in a pushing match. Ms. Smith was pushed to the ground twice, before being slapped in the face.

As a result, the Police were called to the scene and Ms. Smith suffered swelling and bruising around her eye.

In court, Rayner said the two were presently not seeing each other. "I'm sorry for what I've done. She was hitting me and this came from years of abuse (from her)," he told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Mr. Warner said: "You can't behave like this in a public place and anywhere for that fact and worse, she's a woman – not that there's a special class for women.

"Do not go around slapping women!" Mr. Warner cautioned, before handing down the fine with 50 days' default.