A 51-year-old man was jailed for 20 months yesterday for two counts of assaulting a woman.

Shane Todd, from Southampton, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm in connection with a series of incidents early this year.

The court heard that on March 4, police spoke to the victim regarding an unrelated matter and noticed a series of injuries on her face and body.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, later took part in a police interview in which she alleged that sometime between February 23 and March 3, Todd had struck her in the head, causing her to fall to the floor bleeding.

In another incident, which occurred on or about March 1, she said that she and Todd had got into an argument and he had struck her around her body, causing bruising.

As part of the investigation into her allegations, photographs were taken of a series of injuries including swelling and bruising around her eye, an injury to her lip and multiple areas of bruising across her body.

Todd was later arrested and charged with a series of offences, including the two counts of assault, which he admitted in the Supreme Court before a trial could commence.

The court heard that Todd had a long series of previous convictions including assault causing bodily harm, assaulting police, dishonesty and burglary.

Adley Duncan, for the Crown, noted that Todd had previously spent time behind bars for violent offences and recommended a jail sentence of between 18 and 24 months.

Marc Daniels, who represented Todd, said that the range recommended by the Crown was appropriate, but urged the court to consider a sentence at the lower end of the spectrum.

He told the court that some of the victim’s injuries were caused in a “struggle” between the pair, while marks on her arms were caused when the defendant attempted to pick the victim up from the ground.

Mr Daniels said: “He accepts that the force that he used was excessive but this was not an offence born out of Todd wanting to put his hands on her.”

He added that Todd recognised the need to make positive changes for himself and is looking to leave the island once his time in custody is complete and put the past behind him.

Puisne Judge Alan Richards told the court that a message needed to be sent that such offences would be treated seriously, stating that had Todd been convicted of the offences after a trial, he would have sentenced him to 30 months behind bars.

However, he said Todd was entitled to a discount for his guilty pleas, sentencing him to 20 months behind bars for both charges, with the sentences to run concurrently.

He added: “You have an opportunity to put your past behind you and make anew, Mr Todd.”

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