A MAN who grabbed his partner by the neck and hit her in the face just hours into New Year's Day was jailed for 18 months.

Paul Devlin flew into a rage over a 'crude' telephone conversation his girlfriend had during the early hours of January 1.

As well as assaulting her, the dad-of-one stole her phone and smashed her TV during the incident, which took place in his partner's Oxford home.

Devlin, who has a history of violence against women, including members of his own family, had admitted to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one count of theft and one count of criminal damage.

The couple, who had met 18 months prior to the assault, celebrated New Year's Eve together at Devlin's partner's home.

They had both been drinking.

In the early hours of New Year's Day, Devlin's partner spoke to a female friend on the phone.

The conversation was described as 'crude' and Devlin went into the bedroom.

His partner followed shortly thereafter and told Devlin that it "looked like she would be coming to stay with him on Wednesday'.

Devlin, according to the prosecution, replied: "Not talking like that you're not."

To this, which referred to the telephone conversation, the partner said: "Well, she's a wrong'n, isn't she?"

Prosecutor Sarita Basra said Devlin then "lost it".

He leapt out of bed and grabbed his partner by the neck then hit her in the face, giving her a 'fat lip'.

He then stole her phone and smashed her television and some picture frames.

Devlin had said he was 'ashamed' and 'remorseful', though the court heard of a history of violence against women, including his own sister.

He was sentenced to 18 months in jail for the assault. He was given a one-month prison sentence for each of the other offences, to run concurrently. A restraining order was also issued.