A VIOLENT boyfriend spent weeks spitting into his partner’s face - and on one occasion tried to break her fingers.

After hearing about Stuart Wear’s appalling treatment of his girlfriend Wendy Jones, Recorder Kevin Grice jailed him for 18 months. The defendant admitted harassment over six months.

Beccy McGregor, prosecuting at Carlisle Crown Court, outlined how Wear, of Botcherby Avenue, Botcherby, Carlisle, mistreated his partner between January 1 and June 20.

The finger incident happened as they visited Kendal, when Wear grabbed her hand and squeezed hard, saying he would snap her fingers in half. Miss Jones - in extreme pain - suffered an index finger fracture.

The victim was left scared, and told police Wear forced her to go with him shoplifting. A friend told police they stayed with him. “On occasions, he saw the defendant assault Miss Jones,” said the witness.

The friend saw Wear ask Miss Jones for money, and when she said she had none, Wear slapped her face forcefully.

A few days later, the man saw Wear punch Miss Jones. He said Wear was n “intimidating character”. Miss Jones later told a police officer War had tried to strangle her.

He also routinely spat in her face, threw things at her - including a knife - and threatened to kill her, said Miss McGregor. “She is scared of him, but says she’s nothing without him,” added the prosecutor.

The court heard that the defendant has convictions for 124 offences, mostly to do with shoplifting fuelled by drug addiction.

The defendant’s defence barrister said he was a young man, whose life had had been plagued by drug addiction for years. “He now recognises that it was a toxic relationship,” added the barrister.

Recorder Kevin Grice told Wear: “You represent a significant risk of domestic abuse offending. There is very little evidence or remorse. Instead, you choose to blame the victim.” He jailed Wear for 18 months, and imposed a four year restraining order. prohibiting any contact with Miss Jones for four years. She has now left the area, the court heard. The defendant has 124 previous convictions, mostly for shoplifting.