A MAN who subjected his partner to a prolonged and sustained assault has been handed down a prison sentence at Worcester Crown Court.

Support worker Jason Hughes, 34, was arrested on February 3rd earlier this year at an address in Quarry Close, Ross. Police were called to a property regarding, what they believed to be at the time, a domestic incident just before 8am that morning, following a call from the West Midlands Ambulance Service. When officers arrived, they found a woman with serious head injuries and she was taken to Hereford Hospital to receive treatment. Her partner, Jason Hughes, was arrested at the scene.

The Court heard Hughes' partner, Natalie Allman, 26, describe the six-hour assault. She woke up to find Hughes sitting astride her. He punched her repeatedly on the head and held a pillow over her face, while Hughes threatened to kill her. One of Ms Allman's two year old twin sons was in her bed when the assault took place.

The couple had agreed to separate in December last year but had continued to share their home in Quarry Close.

Prosecutor, Peter Grice, told the court that Ms Allman had been hit with a weight from a dumb-bell and a cut had been made across her neck. She had also been stabbed in the head. She told the court she was covered in blood.

At daylight Hughes let her get up. She then called an ambulance.

On Thursday, August 2nd, the Jury deliberated and Hughes was found guilty of maliciously wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm and sentenced to nine years in prison, less 177 days spent on remand.