A MAN who fractured a woman's jaw and spat at her friend has been jailed.

Lew Odigie admitted spitting at Ruby Nicholls and punching Keshia Cyprien so hard in the face he fractured her jaw during a night out in Oxford in May.

The court heard the trio had gone back to a hotel in Iffley Road for more drinks when the attack happened.

The 26-year-old also admitted assaulting Francisco Marco during a separate incident in August.

But Lucy Tapper, defending, told Oxford Crown Court yesterday her client had a troubled past, having seen his mum killed when they lived in America.

Ms Tapper said that after her death Odigie returned to the UK to live with his great grandparents in Headington.

She added: "When he was four years old he was living in America and his mother was killed in front of him.

"He had a very difficult start in life, a very unsettled start and perhaps one he has never fully recovered from.

"He has struggled to find the right path in life."

Ms Tapper said her client had a "poor" criminal record, including robbery, witness intimidation and possessing an offensive weapon in public.

But she said Odigie had written to apologise to his victims and added: "He is deeply remorseful for the offences he has committed."

Odigie admitted two counts of common assaults against Miss Nicholls and Mr Marco, and an assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Miss Cyprien.

Judge Ian Pringle said while spitting at Miss Nicholls had been totally "unacceptable", the attack on Miss Cyprien was even worse.

He added: "She received a fractured jaw as a result of your violence, that cannot be overlooked."

Odigie, now of Southwark Park Road, London, was jailed for a total of 15 months for the three assaults.