Grim-faced James Argent spotted for first time since assaulting model girlfriend in Spain

Grim-faced James Argent has been seen for the first time since assaulting his Swedish girlfriend in Spain.

The 37-year-old star, known for his appearances on The Only Way Is Essex, was pictured looking pensive on Brighton Marina after receiving a suspended sentence over a heated row with girlfriend Nicoline Artursson during their trip to La Cala de Mijas.

Arg was handed a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year restraining order after admitting to pushing Nicoline during an argument.

As part of the court’s ruling, it is thought he may now also complete a ten-week domestic violence rehabilitation course in Spain, which includes listening to the stories of abuse survivors.

Later today Arg is expected to return to the stage as he considers giving his first interview since the incident which has left Nicoline devastated.

Frontman and founder of The Arg Band, James performs at events, weddings and celebrations. He and the band perform regularly at Olivia’s La Cala in Marbella. He is thought to have a private booking today which will go ahead as normal.

Sources say Arg is thinking about putting his side across in a statement or interview to explain what happened.

He broke his silence on Thursday saying: “I haven’t relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober. I am devastated by what’s happened.”

Nicoline, 32, was on holiday with him in Mijas, near Malaga, on May 5 when a diner at a nearby restaurant witnessed a commotion from across the road.

They said the Towie star threw clothes off a balcony and screamed before running out of the house with a bag.

Towie suspended Argent from filming in October 2014 when he failed a drug test. He later attended rehab before returning to the series.

As the Mirror revealed earlier this week, Nicoline Artursson was consoled by a witness who came to her aid just moments after the bust-up.

She told the passerby: “I’m in total shock…my life with Arg was so happy before this.

“I can’t believe what’s happened…we planned to have a family.”

Former Miss Sweden Artursson was on a getaway with Argent, in Mijas, near Malaga, on May 5.

The passerby, who had been dining at a nearby restaurant, witnessed the commotion from across the road. The witness said: “I saw him throwing all his clothes off the balcony… And a lot of screaming in the house, and then he ran out with a large bag.

Nicoline was crying a lot and very nervous and agitated on the street, trying to call the police, but they didn’t speak English, so I went to help her translate. She said nothing like this had ever happened before.” The witness said the bust-up occurred around 11pm and both the police and Artursson’s mother later arrived after Argent had left.

Spanish police said Argent was later arrested for “an alleged crime of domestic violence”. The reality star appeared before the Court of Violence against Women, in Fuengirola, and was later handed a suspended prison sentence for a gender violence offence and given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years

He was banned from contacting Artursson, 32, during this period .

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Source: Mirror