A thug with boxing experience has been jailed after he assaulted a teenage girl and four women, one of whom was pregnant and another a grandmother, in a neighbours' feud.

Stocky Phillip Jackson, said by his lawyer to be “almost wider than he is tall”, punched the gran, Lesley Brooks, “as if she were a boxing opponent”, said a judge.

He also knew where pregnant Sophie Brooks was vulnerable, he said, and she believed he was trying to harm her unborn child.

Jackson’s lawyer spoke of provocation from victims and submitted a suspended sentence could be imposed.

But the 39-year-old father, of Medway Road, Sheerness, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after Judge Martin Joy told him: “These were vicious attacks.

"You have a record for highly relevant offences. You have a disgraceful record of criminal behaviour similar to the sort of behaviour in this case. You have simply not learnt your lesson.

“There has to be a clear and consistent message that those who behave violently to others can only expect to be severely punished. This sort of behaviour cannot be tolerated, and won’t be tolerated.”

Jackson, who had been on remand for six months, admitted assaulting Lesley Brooks causing actual bodily harm and common assault on Sophie Brooks, Angel Halliwell, Chloe Carter-Brooks, 14, and Sarah Brooks.

Maidstone Crown Court heard three generations of a family were next door to Jackson when there was trouble on May 21 last year.

Judge Joy said Jackson used foul and insulting language to Sophie Brooks and others and threw stones in her direction, behaving “abominably”.

On June 19, his temper flared again while “on a short fuse with little or no restraint”. He picked up a car suspension spring and threatened to use it as a weapon.

He put it down and then punched Lesley Brooks repeatedly in the face.

“I have seen photographs of the grandmother, who was punched as if she was a boxing opponent,” said the judge. “You caused her very unpleasant injuries.

“You knew Sophie was pregnant, and punched her as well. You knew where she would be most vulnerable because she was carrying a baby, so you went for her stomach and punched her. She believed you were trying to hurt the baby.

“You also attacked Chloe by punching her to the side of her face, Sarah as well. Quite plainly, most serious is the actual bodily harm on Lesley Brooks.

“You came back and had another go at her. You continued to punch her to the head. There were fractured bones and nasty bruises. Her face was bruised and cut.

“You do present a danger because you simply do not control yourself" - Judge Martin Joy

“Your counsel has said you are a boxer. You are a physical man, you are a powerful man, as can be seen - and I would add that you are a violent man.

“You do present a danger because you simply do not control yourself. You don’t comply with court orders.

"Undoubtedly there must be an immediate sentence of imprisonment, because violence of any sort on this scale committed by a man with your record simply can’t he tolerated.”

Judge Joy imposed an indefinite restraining order banning Jackson from contact with victims.