AN assault which left blood splattered up the walls and across the floor has been deemed too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court.

Richard Weavers, 57, of Elborough Road, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm when he first appeared in court earlier this month.

On Wednesday, he returned to be sentenced. But after hearing the circumstances of the case and seeing graphic pictures of the injuries inflicted on the victim, the magistrates decided that their maximum sentencing power of six months in prison was insufficient.

Weavers, who has been held in custody for the 10 days after breaching his strict bail conditions, was sent to back to prison to await an appearance at the crown court where he will be sentenced.

The magistrates heard how the victim, a female friend of Weavers, had spent the day with him drinking large amounts of cider - both are alcoholics.

That evening, on August 1, they had returned to the victim’s house.

Prosecutor Vyvyan Thatcher told the court: “She remembers him hitting her. It was dark and she was sitting on the floor.

“He was using both hands to punch her in the face. She thinks he punched her approximately 12 times. She felt blood dripping onto her feet.”

The court was shown images of severe swelling and bruising on the victim’s face and blood up the walls, on the floor and soaked into the bedding.

The morning after the assault, on seeing the damage he had inflicted, Weavers told his victim “you can’t go out for a couple of days, I’ll have to do the shopping.”

The prosecution described the assault as a “sustained or repeated assault” on a woman who was drunk, and therefore vulnerable. They said the intention was to cause “serious harm.”