A ROOFING contractor has been jailed for 22 months for breaking his former girlfriend's jaw with a vicious punch after following her through Bradford city centre.

Drunken David Stewart smashed Samantha Scull so hard in the face with his fist that he injured his knuckles, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Miss Scull, 21, had recently ended a three month relationship with Stewart because he was "clingy and obsessive," prosecution barrister Stephen Wood said.

She needed plates inserting into her jaw after he attacked her near the Alhambra Theatre in the early hours of May 31.

Stewart, 27, of Ruffield Side, Wyke, Bradford, pleaded guilty to causing Miss Scull grievous bodily harm.

The court heard he had previous convictions for battery, actual bodily harm and threatening behaviour.

In 2011, he was jailed for 21 months for pushing, punching and biting a former partner.

Mr Wood said Stewart contacted Miss Scull after the break up of their relationship wanting to see her again.

They met up on a night out and both were drinking alcohol.

Miss Scull told the police Stewart became aggressive and "flipped" outside a city centre nightclub.

He shouted rude things at her and she set off to walk home.

Stewart followed, banging on windows to attract her attention and hurling abuse.

When Miss Scull, who had repeatedly told him to go away, slapped him across the face, he punched her on the jaw.

Mr Wood said: "It must have been a blow of significant force because he damaged his hand."

Stewart's knuckles were swollen when police examined them after his arrest.

He picked Miss Scull up from the ground and apologised but she was spitting blood and ran off.

She phoned a friend who found her covered in blood and crying hysterically.

Stewart told the police he followed Miss Scull because that part of Bradford "was not a nice area".

Miss Scull was now unable to go out on her own as she had lost her confidence, felt afraid and suffered nightmares, the court was told.

Stewart's solicitor advocate, Ashok Khullar, said he was genuinely remorseful and knew there was no excuse for his violent behaviour.

Judge David Hatton QC said of Stewart's excuse for following Miss Scull for her own safety: "It is certainly not a nice area with people like you about in it in the condition and humour that you were in that night."

He made a restraining order banning Stewart from any future contact with Miss Scull.