Paul Dixon, 29, of Axwell House, Cowpen, Blyth had been drinking when a fight broke out between him and his brother.
Dixon's girlfriend intervened to break up the fight and went home. She was later contacted by defendant's mother who asked her com
e and get him from her home, prosecutor Yvonne Jobling told south east Northumberland magistrates.
The girlfriend arrived and woke defendant up. Outside, defendant pushed her causing her to fall into a patch of nettles and she was stung on her back and arms. He then punched her in the face," Mrs Jobling said.
Dixon was later arrested and accepted there had been an altercation but said that he had poked her not punched her and denied having pushed her into the nettles.
He pleaded guilty to common assault.
Kyle Patterson, defending, said: "He admits to assaulting her by way of a poke, not a gentle poke, but not a punch.
"It was an unpleasant incident for the victim. All parties had consumed alcohol and he had a scrap with his brother, he can't remember why.
"He recalls being at his mother's address but can't recall why. He was awoken by the claimant and they had a row.
"He remembers that he poked her in the face during that row. He can't offer a very good explanation as to why that did occur but he does accept it has caused injury."
Magistrates asked for pre-sentence reports to be prepared with a custodial sentence as a starting point. Dixon will be sentenced on July 20.
