A FATHER who punched, strangled and spat at his former girlfriend during a “sustained and serious” attack in a hotel has been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard how 43-year-old Damian John Aspin launched the “degrading” and “nasty” attack on the woman, which also saw him throw his phone in her face.

During the incident, which happened in a Southport hotel on September 27, Aspin called the woman a “fat b****” and other names.

The court heard as well as suffering emotional damage from Aspin’s attack, his victim was also caused great distress at the prospect of her son having to see the physical injuries the defendant had caused.

Aspin, of Burnley Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Defending, Katie Jones, said her client had displayed deep and genuine remorse and he had his own emotional issues which she accepted weren’t helped after he had been drinking. However, she said Aspin was seeking help to address his issues.

Judge Richard Gioserano said: “The victim had done nothing to deserve you turning against her in this way. Yet in drink you turned on her in a flash.

“Over the course of a number of hours – I accept the violence wasn’t constant over that period, it ebbed and flowed – you subjected her to a thoroughly unpleasant ordeal in this hotel.

"At times you punched her, including to the face repeatedly. You resorted to putting your hands around her neck and strangling her. You spat at her. You verbally abused her.”

Adding that it was a serious and sustained attack, Judge Gioserano said he would be failing in his public duty if he suspended the custodial sentence.

But jailing Aspin for 10 months Judge Gioserano said he hoped the sentence was short enough so the defendant could rebuild his relationship with his children.

A two-year restraining order was imposed banning the defendant from contacting his victim and entering Catlow Hall Street in Oswaldtwistle.