A 25-year-old Douglas man has been jailed for 12 weeks for punching his girlfriend.

Jake Flood, of Mona Drive, admitted common assault on a female.

The offence put him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in December for assaulting a police woman and affray.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon told the court that Flood had been in a relationship with his victim for five weeks.

On March 12 the couple were said to have rowed at their home, which resulted in Flood punching the woman in the back.

She was then said to have punched him with Flood responding by punching her to the ground.

The woman then began to pack, saying she was going to leave and return to the UK.

Flood called his mother asking for money saying: ’Mum, have you got any money to get her home? I’ve just punched her. I’m going to batter her.’

Flood’s girlfriend went to the Sea Terminal but was located by police and was said to be suffering from swelling to her left temple and forehead.

Flood agreed to meet police at the Villa Marina and was subsequently arrested.

He told officers: ’I didn’t punch her five times, I punched her once.’

Flood told police that his girlfriend had hit him first.

Defence advocate Paul Glover admitted that the only option available to magistrates was to send his client to immediate custody.

’Mr Flood has been trying to juggle a full-time job and probation. He has been in a stormy, unhealthy relationship in the last few months.

’He has found it difficult bedding in with probation services but he does want to work with them. He know everything they’re doing for him is for his benefit.’

The advocate went on to say that probation services had reported that they would like the supervision order to continue.

The court heard that Flood has spent 23 days in custody, close to the equivalent of a seven-week sentence.

Magistrates did not active the 20-week suspended sentenced but the magistrates’ chairman, Charles Fargher, told Flood: ’This was an unpleasant offence in the lady’s own home and at a time when you were subject to a suspended sentence supervision order.

’We have been quite lenient to you today. We’re going to give you a chance but if you do anything else when you are out there will not be the same leniency.’