A SURVIVOR of domestic violence says she can "move on" with her life after her abuser was handed a restraining order.

Katherine Catena, from Bicester, has bravely come forward to encourage other victims of abuse to speak out after she her estranged husband, Carmine Catena, 53, of Constance Street, Buckingham was ordered not to contact her again.

Speaking after the trial and sentencing at Oxford Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 21 she said a "weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

The 43-year-old said: "I feel so relieved that I can finally move on and have a fresh start.

"He was found out to be the liar, not me - he has not got anything over me anymore.

"And I would say to anybody who is in a situation like this to just tell somebody, there are people out there who care about you and who will help you.”

Katherine suffered a "humiliating" attack at the hands of Catena on March 29 this year, which left her with a black eye and tufts of hair missing.

The court heard how at work the next day Katherine – embarrassed by the amount of hair she was losing after her head was grabbed and shaken by Catena – put tufts of hair in a bin and hid it in the cupboard so colleagues would not find it.

During his sentencing, deputy district judge David Miller called the attack “serious, ugly and humiliating.”

He said: “Domestic violence is extremely serious.

"You attacked a vulnerable woman in her own home.

"You humiliated her and she was ashamed of what had happened."

Catena was found guilty of one count of assault by beating and was handed a community order for 18 months, requiring him to attend a Building Better Relationships programme for 24 sessions.

He was given a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 60 days and is expected to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation to Katherine, £620 in costs and a victim surcharge of £85 and was given a restraining order.