A MAN who headbutted and repeatedly punched a shop worker leaving her with a broken jaw, nose and cheekbone, has been jailed for three years.

Anthony Ring, 20, of Orchard Rise, Chesterton, who admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Ann Marchba nk on February 9 this year, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced. Giles Curtis- Raleigh, prosecuting, said Ms Marchbank had been working at the Tesco store on Sheep Street in Bicester at about 6.30pm when a group of youths had gathered outside.

A beer bottle was thrown at the kiosk, and she asked the youths to leave.

Mr Curtis-Raleigh, who described Ring as the leader of the group, said another bottle was thrown, prompting a confrontation between the defendant and Ms Marchbank.

Ring is alleged to have then made threats at the shop worker, before headbutting her and punching her in the face.

Mr Curtis-Raleigh told the court that when Ms Marchbank slumped down a wall during the attack, Ring pulled her up so he could punch her again.

She was taken to the Horton Hospital in Banbury with a broken jaw, cheekbone and nose, and bruising.

Tom Payne, defending, said Ring had previous convictions but none for an offence as serious, and he had never received a prison sentence before.

He said his client was not a "hopeless case" but someone who had held down jobs.