by Julia Roberts

A man who lashed out at his girlfriend with a mobile phone and broke her jaw has been jailed for 18 months.

A judge at Maidstone Crown Court told 40-year-old Lee Webb that his now ex-partner’s injury was “right at the top of the scale” for the offence of causing actual bodily harm.

“You readily punched and struck your then partner, not only with your fists but with a phone,” said Judge James O’Mahony.

Referring to Webb’s previous convictions for wounding, common assault and battery, the judge added: “All too readily, in drink no doubt, you resort to your fists and lose your temper.”

Webb, of Hopgarden Close, Lamberhurst, admitted causing actual bodily harm and damaging property on October 12 last year.

The court heard Webb and his partner had been together for two years and were living in Tunbridge Wells at the time of the attack.

In a basis of plea, Webb said both of them had been drinking and violence erupted when his partner tried to wake him by flicking the light on and off.

Webb said he lashed out with the phone in his hand but had not intended to hit her with it. The pair both fell over a table and onto the floor and her clothing was also ripped.

Passing sentence, Judge O’Mahony said custody was inevitable for what was a “sustained and violent” assault.

“There is real public concern in this country about domestic violence,” he added. “It is prevalent and goes on behind closed doors. It is committed by the strong on the weak and often while in drink and drugs.

“The victim is often very vulnerable because they have real affection for the violent partner.”