A MAN with a history of domestic abuse has been jailed after he admitted twice assaulting a girlfriend.

Craig McFarlane, of Shelley Close, Headington, was already serving a suspended sentence for attacking a former girlfriend when he assaulted his new partner on April 23, Oxford Crown Court heard.

That day, he picked her up after she had been partying in London.

An argument then began and a man saw McFarlane drag the woman from his car before he dumped her beside the road in Regents Park.

McFarlane then drove off, leaving her without money or shoes.

Days later, the court was told at his sentencing on Wednesday, he attacked her again.

She told police he hit her head against a wooden board at her home so hard that it left a lump on her head.

The woman has now attempted to retract all allegations against 30-year-old McFarlane and has rejected an opportunity to work with prosecutors, the court heard.

Prosecutor Stephen Earnshaw said McFarlane had previously been given a non-molestation order after he assaulted another woman in October 2015, but breached it shortly afterwards.

He was given a suspended sentence for that offence, which was activated when McFarlane admitted the most recent attacks.

Henry James, defending, said McFarlane, was 'ashamed' of his actions.

The defendant claimed his girlfriend had 'flown into a rage' after he had travelled to the capital to pick her up, stamping on the inside of the car before McFarlane pulled her out, left her alone and a man out jogging came to her aid.

Father-of-one McFarlane, who works as a plumber with his uncle, is able to achieve in his life, Mr James said.

He said: "He is a man with some prospects and he is of an age now at which this behaviour needs to end."

Judge Peter Ross rejected the prosecution's request for a restraining order to stop McFarlane approaching his victim, on the grounds she is likely to look to rekindle her relationship with him.

Judge Ross jailed McFarlane for 25-weeks for each of the two counts of common assault, to run concurrently.

A 12-week jail term for breaching his suspended sentence was activated and will begin after McFarlane has served 25 weeks.