A THUG rained blows on his ex-partner in a ‘horrific’ attack in front of their teenage son after a row over money turned to violence.

Gary Stow, of Talgarth Road, London, had already admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and causing criminal damage.

The 43-year old looked down at his feet as he was told at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday that the ‘sustained attack’ at an address in Bicester was so violent it had to merit a jail term.

Stow, the court heard, had become embroiled in a bitter dispute over arrangements to pay child maintenance to his estranged ex-partner.

Shortly before 7am on November 7 he turned up at his victim’s home and demanded to be let inside, screaming through the door..

He eventually bashed his way into the house and broke into his son's upstairs bedroom where he found his ex-partner and the 16-year old.

Prosecutor Jonathan Stone described the ensuing assault as a ‘horrific’ attack which saw Stow grab his victim by her hair before repeatedly punching and kicking her on her spine as she lay on the floor.

Stow then said to his son: “You know I’m a psycho and you know not to mess with me” before leaving.

In a statement read to court his victim said that she as well as their teenage son was ‘begging’ him to stop the onslaught which lasted about five minutes.

In mitigation, Priya Patel said that her client was ‘extremely remorseful’ and said that the feud over how much maintenance money he should pay was the root cause of the attack.

Addressing the court Stow read out a letter he had composed and said: “I would like to say how ashamed and disappointed I am with my recent conduct.

“I deeply regret the pain and anguish I put these victims through.”

Stow was jailed for 12 months for the assault and will be subject to a restraining order on his victim.