An enraged boyfriend was jailed after kicking his partner so savagely in the groin she had to stay in hospital for four days.

Philip Carver, 35, attacked his partner of ten years, with whom he had three children, after she began shouting at him, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Carver, of Wood Hill Drive, Grove, admitted grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 18 months.

John Small, prosecuting, said: "He lost his temper, lunged towards her, grabbed her by the throat and pushed her onto a bean bag.

"She kicked him between the legs to get him off her. He then kicked her very hard between the legs in the groin area at least three times.

"She ran upstairs leaving a trail of blood," he said.

"She tried to get back to the kitchen to phone for the doctor but the accused pulled the phone connection out, and ordered her to get in the bath, saying she didn't need the doctor."

Mr Small said the 33-year-old woman then fled to a neighbour's house and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. She was discovered to have a 2cm-long internal cut and extensive bruising.

Mr Small said Carver had a history of violence towards his partner, with whom he had three children. He had been found guilty of common assault towards her before and also had previous convictions for violence against others.

Tony McGeorge, defending, said Carver, did not intend to do any real harm.

But Judge Thomas Corrie, jailing Carver, said no provocation from his partner justified the attack on her.

Story date: Friday 19 February

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