A WOMAN supervisor at a Gwent social club was "humiliated and degraded" when the steward spanked her several times on her bottom.

Paul Price, 38, who was the steward of Pantside Social Club, Newbridge, told Linda Thomas to "harden up" after which he carried out the assaults, prosecutor Lisa Jane Thomas told Cardiff crown court.

Price, of Aneurin Avenue, Swffryd, Crumlin, was sentenced to a community punishment order for 80 hours after admitting two charges of common assault.

He was also ordered to pay Mrs Thomas £1,000 compensation and £414 costs. Judge David Morris told Price, a man with no previous convictions and now working as a security manager: "You struck a woman employee three times on her backside. Why you did so may remain something of an uncertainty. The motive may have been more than you exerted your authority over a subordinate.

"It was thoroughly unpleasant, wholly unlawful and an attempt at bullying in the workplace. It is a serious case of its type. You thoroughly frightened her."

The prosecutor told the court on the afternoon of July 17 Price telephoned Mrs Thomas and complained at being dissatisfied with the standard of the cleaning.

When she arrived at the club he went up behind her as she was cleaning and slapped her three times on the bottom.

He went up to her on two more occasions, slapping her a total of six times. "She became very upset and he apologised saying he hadn't meant to hurt her," said Miss Thomas.

Later, the court heard, he told her: "Next time, trousers and pants down and I'll be smacking your bare bottom."

When arrested he denied the assaults. Leighton Hughes, mitigating, said: "His behaviour was boorish and foolish but there was nothing of an indecent nature.

"He is of positive good character, well regarded. When the allegations came to light he was dismissed. He is thoroughly and rightly ashamed of what he did. He had been a model citizen. He is a big man, old enough to know better."