A 27 YEAR OLD Evesham man was jailed for 14 months for assaulting his partner in her home in Hardwicke, nr Gloucester, in the early hours of Christmas Eve last year.

Christopher Young, of Battleton Road, Evesham, pleaded guilty at Gloucester crown court to assaulting Teresa Wearne causing her actual bodily harm on December 24 last year.

He also admitted doing criminal damage to Ms Wearne's property by smashing a bedroom door and a glass panel.

When the police attended the property having been called by a concerned neighbour, they found Young hiding upstairs hiding under a bed, the court heard.

Prosecutor Grace Flynn, told the judge, Recorder Jason Taylor, that when Young came out from under the bed, the officers heard him say "She ought to tell them that she didn't want to make a complaint."

Miss Flynn continued "He denied assaulting his partner, and said her injuries were due to a robbery and also that she might have self harmed with a hammer handle."

She added "When the police arrived the victim said everything was okay, and she had caused the damage herself but the police were suspicious and wanted to check the situation for themselves."

Miss Flynn said that Ms Wearne had not "made a complaint about this," and that she had also been arrested because Young had said she had assaulted him "but he had no injuries."

The judge noted from the case papers that she had said "she was fed up with being beaten up by him."

Miss Flynn went on "He is marked as a 'prolific offender', with 42 previous convictions.

"He was on licence [for a previous offence] at the time, and has now been recalled to prison," she said. His earliest release date was now 3rd May this year.

The prosecutor said "this was a sustained assault, and the complainant is a somewhat vulnerable individual. The photos demonstrate significant bruising to her eye area."

Defending Young, Lloyd Jenkins said "In essence he accepted full responsibility for the injuries, but has just whispered to me that he did not use a weapon."

The judge said to Mr Jenkins "It is a case of greater harm, and I would take some persuasion that it's not the use of a weapon."

Mr Jenkins said "He says to me 'I didn't hit her with a weapon. I did it with my hands.' She is in court today. She approached me and handed me a letter that I have submitted to you.

"He's under no illusions. He knows he is going to prison. These are mean offences.

"Christmas is a time of giving and goodwill, and what he gave her were bruises and injuries.

"He has genuine regret and remorse. He said 'I want to do the right thing.' He said he had been drinking and he was drunk. This was only the second time in his life he has been drunk.

"He flipped. He said he will never drink again, and never hit anyone again.

"The victim said to me that 'we were a volcano meeting a tornado'. Drink has been an issue in her life previously."

Sentencing Young the judge said "On the early hours of Christmas Eve police were called by a neighbour. They found your partner with severe bruising to her face. I'm satisfied you used a weapon.

"You have 12 previous offences of violence. You've received the full range of sentences as a persistent offender.

"I'm encouraged that you have completed the 'family matters' course in prison. When released you will be on licence again. I hope you continue the good work you have started."

Young received a one month prison sentence for the criminal damage to run concurrently with the fourteen month jail term for assault.