A story in Saturday's paper incorrectly reported that Charron Davis had stolen $1,500 from her boyfriend, Swain Lightbourne, before she was assaulted by him.

These allegations were never proven. Her daughter is also 14 years old, not two.

A 33-year-old Warwick man who brutally assaulted his girlfriend in May will spend the next three years behind bars.

Swain Eugene Lightbourne, of Upland Lane, admitted to charges of assault causing grievous bodily harm.

The landscaper punched and kicked Charron Davis outside Paw Paws restaurant on South Road, Warwick on May 1 after she stole $1,500 from him.

Davis suffered a broken nose and lacerations to her shoulders, knees and face.

Other patrons of the restaurant intervened and Davis was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where she received several stitches for her injuries.

Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus yesterday pointed out in the Supreme Court that Lightbourne received a similar conviction after he assaulted the same complainant last year. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for that offence.

Lightbourne's record also includes other assault convictions and use of threatening words.

Ms Bacchus said the incident has caused a great deal of stress to the victim, her family and two-year-old daughter, and sentencing should reflect society's abhorrence of the behaviour.

In defence, lawyer Marc Telemaque asked Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller to consider his client's guilty plea, cooperation with Police and show of remorse.

He noted that his client had been provoked and was frustrated because he would not have been able to meet his monthly financial commitments without the money. Lightbourne was also under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

Mr. Telemaque suggested a sentence between two to four years -- the maximum is five years.

During the sentencing, Lightbourne said: "It was never my intention to cause the damage I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions. I did not like what I had done and today I still feel bad about what I have done.''