vicious attack on his sister.

Unemployed Kimble Jacobs, 26, of Rockaway Lane, Southampton, pleaded guilty to the frenzied assault on Cynthia Jacobs, 34, at her home in Mary Victoria Road, Devonshire.

He admitted to punching his sister 15 times, as well as kicking her and striking her with his knee, over an argument about their father.

Later he told the Police that he felt no remorse for the attack which he had "wanted to do for some time.'' Miss Jacobs reported the incident to the Police, but after tempers had cooled a little she asked for the case to be dropped. But it was too late as her brother was already due to appear in Magistrates' Court.

A magistrate passed the case on to Supreme Court for sentencing because it was a serious assault on a woman. Jacobs has been in custody since August 15, when the attack happened.

Crown Counsel Mr. Mark Pettingill told the court that Miss Jacobs and her mother had returned home to find the defendant.

Mr. Pettingill said: "An argument started between the defendant and his mother. Miss Jacobs became involved. He told her to stay out of the conversation.

"It continued and the defendant punched his sister on the left side of her face and then continued to punch and kick her until other members of the family were able to pull him off.'' Miss Jacobs received a cut over her right eye, which required five sutures.

She is still undergoing treatment to her jaw, which was thought to be broken.

Mr. Pettingill said: "This was a particularly vicious and sustained attack against a woman. It is not the first time he has been involved in an assault.

"When he was arrested he said he had no remorse and had wanted to do it for some time.'' In mitigation, Mr. Frederick Wade MP said: "I understand from talking to the family that the jaw was not broken. The only permanent injuries will be emotional scars.

"The family is now trying to mend fences. Mr. Jacobs has written to his sister with an apology. The family has been trying to resolve the matter and the sister has tried to get the charges dropped.

"The incident arose out of a long-standing dispute over the father's ability to drive his car.'' Mr. Jacobs had been operating as a `gypsy cab' driver, offering lifts to people to supplement his income. But after illness his wife and daughter told him not to drive and his daughter had the keys to the car. The defendant had sided with his father.

Mr. Wade said that the matter had been resolved while Jacobs had been in custody, and Mr. Jacobs had now been giving a driving licence.

Continuing, Mr. Wade said: "They have always been a close knit family and feel deeply for each other. He is deeply remorseful about the shame and embarrassment he has caused his family and particularly his sister.

"He has had a short, sharp shock over the past six weeks, because it has been his first time in prison. I do not think a long period of incarceration will assist this matter.

"The time in prison has shown him how serious the offence was, but it is in effect a domestic matter. A family matter.'' Puisne Judge the Hon. Richard Ground said that he felt imprisoning Jacobs would not help to bind the family together.

He said: "Hopefully his time in prison will show him the penalty for this type of uncontrolled behaviour.'' Mr. Justice Ground put Jacobs on probation for two years and ordered that he continue to take psychiatric counselling.