A man who launched a string of brutal attacks on his childhood sweetheart has been jailed for 18 months.

Brendan Blythe-Brennick, of Mill Lane, Castle Eaton, kicked, stamped on and then used a walking stick to hit his partner during a long weekend of violence at the family home.

Some of the attacks came after the 34-year-old complained that he did not know where he was going to get more cannabis from.

And while the 34-year-old was in custody on remand he phoned and wrote to her to try and get her to drop the charges against him.

Even though his partner withdrew her co-operation the Crown Prosecution Service continued with the case.

Lynne Henderson, prosecuting, said Blythe-Brennick and his partner Kelly Robertson had been together more or less since leaving school'.

She said there had been a history of unreported domestic violence before the incidents which started on Friday November 2 last year.

During an argument where he was complaining he did nave any cannabis to smoke he punched and kicked her hard to the pubic area causing bruising.

The following morning he was woken up by other people in the house so he got up, grabbed Miss Robertson and pulled her to the ground.

"While she was on the floor he lifted his foot over her head and said This has got your name on it'," she said.

"The defendant then kicked her to the right side of the head and jumped on her right shoulder. Miss Robertson was crying with the pain."

She went to hospital fearing she had a broken collar bone but was told it was only muscle injury and medics recommended physiotherapy.

On the Monday morning Blythe-Brennick was again woken early and started shouting about being roused and where he was going to get some cannabis.

In a rage Miss Robertson threw a cutlery drawer on to the floor but realising she had gone to far fled into her car outside.

Seeing he had left the house she returned to find glass smashed on the floor and then felt a blow to the back of her head.

She turned to see her partner and after swinging a blow at him noticed a walking stick on the ground.

As a result of the attack she had a two centimetre cut to the back of her head which needed to be glued together at hospital.

After Miss Robertson reported the matters to the police Blythe-Brennick was remanded into custody.

But while he was in prison he wrote emotionally charged letters some asking for the charges to be dropped and made 33 phone calls which were recorded.

Blythe-Brennick pleaded guilty to two ABHs, a common assault, and perverting the course of justice.

Ruth Armstrong, defending, said the probation service wrote in the pre-sentence report they would recommend a community sentence if he had an address to go to.

She urged the court to adjourn the matter so further inquiries could be made to find him accommodation.

But Judge Douglas Field refused to put off the matter and imposed the 18 month jail term.

He said "These are assaults within the domestic abuse context were seriously aggravated. Aggravated by the use of a stick on her head and she being kicked."

7:58am Monday 12th May 2008

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