A MAN has been jailed for 16 months after assaulting his former partner up to 40 times and degrading and humiliating her.

Carl Bailey punched her with a key, kicked her in his work boots, strangled her and spat in her face, Bradford Crown Court heard.

She had lost count of how many times he had attacked her but believed it was 30 or 40, prosecutor Brian Russell said.

Bailey, 52, of Fearnville Drive, Laisterdyke, Bradford, pleaded guilty earlier this week to three charges of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour.

Mr Russell said the couple’s relationship began well but deteriorated.

Bailey, a timber yard worker, began to be verbally abusive and went on to assault her on numerous occasions.

The police attended many times at their address, the court was told.

Bailey had punched her in the arm while holding a key, causing a puncture wound, kicked her to the body in his steel-capped boots and strangled her causing bruising to her neck. She sustained black eyes and bruising, including to her neck.

He had also degraded and humiliated her by accusing her of infidelity and spitting in her face.

Mr Russell said they began to live at separate addresses but Bailey harassed her by phoning her repeatedly and turning up uninvited at her home.

She had suffered physical and psychological harm and been degraded and subjected to violence many times.

Bailey at first denied any wrongdoing, saying said she had self-harmed.

He had a single previous conviction for common assault, dating back to 2008.

Adam Walker said in mitigation that there was another side to Bailey, shown in letters of reference produced to the court.

His behaviour to the woman was out of character. He was normally a hardworking and law-abiding man, spoken of well by others.

A former partner was in court to support him with a group of well-wishers, Mr Walker said.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said Bailey’s guilty plea had saved the woman from having to give evidence in court.

He had admitted assaulting her on many occasions and controlling, degrading and humiliating her. The offending was so serious that it called for an immediate prison sentence.

Judge Mansell made an indefinite restraining order banning Bailey from contacting the woman directly by any means whatsoever, except through an agreed third party. He mustn’t attend at any address where she is either.