A man who headbutted his partner – having previously assaulted an ex – has been jailed.

Grant Stephen, 28, of Balmoral Avenue, Banbury, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to assaulting the woman while in the car with her on January 24 last year.

Oxford Crown Court heard the man had previously received a suspended prison sentence for assaulting a different ex-partner. As part of that suspended sentence he had successfully completed the probation service’s Building Better Relationships programme, aimed at reducing his risk to future girlfriends.

Sentencing him on Friday, Judge Nigel Daly said: “You completed the whole of that sentence without breaching it but here you are again, assaulting your partner, headbutting her, breaking her nose, causing her permanent injury.”

He jailed Stephen for 16 months, saying: “The truth of the matter is you previously received help, you undertook that Building Better Relationships programme.

“It seems to have had no effect. You just went out and assaulted your next partner.

“I consider you remain a danger to the public, particularly to women with whom you form a relationship and I don’t think there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation as a result.”

A restraining order prevents him from contacting his victim indefinitely.

Earlier, Gordana Austin said her client now had a new partner and ‘simply wants to move on with his life’.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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