A BUILDING worker who orchestrated attacks on his former girlfriend has been jailed.

Richard Malcolm Pilcher kicked Tara Wright in the face and twice felled her with punches. He also cheered on his present girlfriend as she attacked her.

When eyewitness James Maxwell Bell alerted police to the 3am violence, Pilcher turned on him with the words: “This is for getting involved” and tried to bite him.

He had previously breached a court injunction aimed at protecting Ms Wright six times.

Judge Rodney Grant, said at York Crown Court, said: “It was a premeditated attack against a person who was at the time almost defenceless.

“He turned up at his former partner’s with the intention there should be violence perpetrated toward his former partner either by his present girlfriend or by himself and then matters went from there.”

Pilcher, of Sirocco Court, Foxwood, pleaded guilty to affray, causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

He was jailed for 15 months. The 23-year-old had previously served nine months imposed by a civil court for breaching an injunction imposed after he and Ms Wright ended their 12-month relationship nearly four years ago.

Geraldine Kelly, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Pilcher was violent towards Ms Wright during their relationship.

At 3am on December 13, 2008, he contacted her by phone to tell her that his current girlfriend was at her house.

Ms Wright went out and Pilcher urged his current girlfriend to fight.

The two women rolled on the ground, grabbing at each other’s hair.

Mr Bell called police and locked himself in a house, but opened the door after Pilcher knocked.

Pilcher punched him, jumped on him and tried to bite him.

Ms Wright persuaded Pilcher to stop, but he then turned on her, punching her in the face.

When she fell for the second time, he kicked her in the face.

She suffered bruising to her face, nose and hand injuries and had headaches afterwards. Pilcher also smashed a window of her house.

For Pilcher, Taryn Turner said her client had medical problems, but as long as he had medication he could control his behaviour.