A FORMER rugby league player who left his terrified girlfriend "unrecognisable" when he delivered a full force headbutt to her face was jailed today for two years and nine months.

Mother-of-three Samantha Baker was attacked by Benjamin Carley after he accused her of having an affair, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Powerfully-built Carley ran after Miss Baker when she fled her home and assaulted her in the garden at her friend's address, where she was seeking help.

Carley, 26, of Whinfield Avenue, Keighley, headbutted her, breaking her nose, before dragging her back to her home and attacking her again.

She is believed to have lost consciousness and the court heard her face was "fairly unrecognisable" when the police arrived at her Keighley home.

Carley, who had served two lengthy jail sentences for previous offences of violence, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on 29-year-old Miss Baker on July 18.

Kate Batty, prosecuting, told the court that Miss Baker was in a short relationship with Carley but they never lived together.

He was babysitting for her the evening before the assault and turned on her in rage, accusing her of having a relationship.

After pursuing and headbutting her, Carley dragged her back to her home where she was punched in the face.

As well as a broken nose, she suffered a bust lip, broken tooth, nasty cuts to the inside of her mouth and bruised ribs.

Paramedics were called to her home and she was taken by ambulance to hospital.

The court heard that Carley was locked up for 40 months in 2007 for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

In 2010, he was jailed for four years for causing grievous bodily harm, two offences of actual bodily harm and battery.

Carley's barrister, Sophie Drake, said: "He is deeply remorseful about what he did that night."

He had mental health problems and suffered from paranoia.

Miss Drake said Carley had enjoyed a successful rugby career but gave it up when he began offending eight years' ago.

Judge Colin Burn told Carley: "Miss Baker was on the receiving end of some quite significant violence from you."

He was "a relatively powerfully built individual" who delivered a full force headbutt followed up by further violence.

"It was an extremely terrifying and painful experience for her," Judge Burn said.