A VIOLENT man who subjected his partner to two sustained beatings during a terrifying ordeal has been jailed.

Shaun Beeches launched two vicious attacks on his partner in October and December last year, leaving her 'battered and bruised'.

On the first occasion, the 38-year-old told his victim that he wanted to 'see how hard he could punch' before subjecting her to a savage beating.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that the victim's grandmother was horrified when she saw her battered and bruised face and took pictures of the injuries.

He said: "She just sat there and took the beating, he finished this vicious attack and went outside and had a cigarette like nothing had happened."

On the second occasion, Beeches twice turned up at the victim's house before she let the defendant in and again attacked the 'vulnerable' woman, despite being the subject of a restraining order.

Mr Soppitt said: "He was allowed in and he demanded she perform sexual acts on him but she refused and again the defendant kicked and beat her. While he was doing it he was threatening her and her grandmother."

In a victim personal statement, Mr Soppitt said the woman had been left terrified by her ordeal after being beaten 'black and blue'.

Mr Soppitt told the court that the victim had made a new statement to police on March 25 when she said she had made up the attacks, claiming her injuries were caused by falling over.

Beeches, of Borrowdale Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing actual bodily harm and another of common assault.

In mitigation, Robert Mochrie said his client pleaded guilty late in the day 'to save the victim the dignity of having to come to court to give evidence'.

Judge Paul Watson QC jailed Beeches for a total of 18 months for the two attacks during the 'aggressive and abusive' relationship mired by alcohol abuse on both sides.

He said: "On the first occasion you repeatedly punched her and you treated her like a domestic punch bag. When her grandmother saw her she was quite rightly horrified.

"On December 5, you gave her another beating, leaving her black and blue, leaving her quite frankly scared to death of you."