A MAN who forced his way into his former partner's home and attacked a man sleeping on the sofa has been jailed at Bradford Crown Court.

Darren Ineson, 30, had pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to Brandon Myers in December last year at an earlier hearing.

He had also admitted breaching the terms of an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting his former partner, Gemma Cresswell, with whom he had a three-year relationship until early last year.

Prosecutor Niall Carlin told the court yesterday that on December 14, Ineson and at least one other man had gone to Miss Cresswell's home in Albert Street, Baildon, and damaged a lock to force entry.

Once inside, he found Mr Myers asleep on a sofa in the downstairs living room.

Ineson was said to have started screaming and shouting at Mr Myers, before then punching, kicking, and stamping on him.

Miss Cresswell heard the commotion and came out of an upstairs bedroom, which was she was sharing with her current partner, and Ineson was said to run past her shouting 'Where is he?'

She screamed at him until he eventually ran from the property, where her nine year-old daughter was also staying.

In impact statements read to the court, Mr Myers said he had suffered bruising to his arms and legs, also feeling pain in his hips for a number of weeks.

He said he had been scared to leave his house since the incident for fear of further assaults.

Miss Cresswell said Ineson had left her feeling "always anxious and looking over her shoulder", with the confrontation forcing her to take time off work with stress.

Ineson was already serving a five-month suspended sentence for a previous assault on Miss Cresswell from February 2014.

In mitigation, Stephen Wood said the assault was "undoubtedly an unpleasant incident", but had not forced the victim to seek any medical treatment.

He said Ineson had been drinking on the day of the incident due to grief caused by a family bereavement, and had let his "emotions overwhelm him".

Sentencing Ineson, of Crosley Wood Road, Bingley, Judge David Hatton said: "The injuries to Mr Myers were not severe, perhaps by good fortune and not your desire.

"I would be failing in my public duty if I did not impose a sentence of immediate imprisonment."

Ineson was jailed for a total of 20 months, 14 months for the assault on Mr Myers, five months for the previous offence against Miss Cresswell, and one month for breaching the restraining order against her.