A SOUTHAMPTON mum “lost control of herself” and punched her ex-partner after he failed to repay a debt, a court heard.

Kelli Ann O’Neill, 48, threw two punches at Trevor Dubison outside Bargain Booze in Shirley Road on March 2 after he was unable to pay back a £370 loan.

O'Neill pleaded guilty to assault by beating when she appeared before magistrates on Wednesday.

Dan O’Neill, prosecuting, said police inspected the store's CCTV to establish what had happened.

They saw footage of O’Neill throwing a punch towards Mr Dubison shortly after he bent over to use a cashpoint.

Mr O'Neill said O’Neill, of Wharf Road, threw a punch at her ex-partner, causing him to stumble, before throwing another punch.

The court heard Mr Dubison had secured a loan from O’Neill to help with funeral arrangements following the death of his mother.

Mr O'Neill said when Mr Dubison went to the cashpoint to withdraw the money owed, he did not have enough to make up the debt which made O’Neill angry.

Richard Harris, mitigating, said O’Neill had a number of convictions in 2014 for battery.

Mr Harris said O’Neill and Mr Dubison, who have two children together, had been separated for a long time.

He added when O’Neill discovered Mr Dubison had not got enough money to pay back the loan, it was the "final straw" and she “lost control of herself”.

O’Neill was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £40 costs.

Graham Westbrook, chairing the bench, said: “There was a degree of culpability on Mr Dubison’s part by promising to pay the debt and spending money on the evening before.

“You should not have lost your temper and punched Mr Dubison, but there was no lasting injury and there is no evidence there has been further action since then.”