A YORK teenager who beat up his girlfriend so badly she suffered a collapsed lung is to be put behind bars, York Crown Court heard.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Even ing Press, Barry Robert Pickard, 19, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, and also to a charge of dangerous driving, after initially denying both offences.

Pickard, of Straylands Grove, Heworth, has been in custody since December, and will now stay behind bars for longer. The case was adjourned until next month for pre-sentence reports, but Judge Paul Hoffman told defence barrister Glen Parsons: "He will be receiving a custodial sentence."

Pickard's ex-girlfriend, Jenny Ackroyd, 18, had earlier told the court he had hit her repeatedly on the night of October 31, and into the morning of November 1. She said one blow had left her winded, adding: "I couldn't get my breath back after that."

She spent four days in hospital, telling doctors a horse had kicked her after Pickard had told her to lie about the injuries.

Asked by prosecution barrister, David Brooke, how she felt about Pickard apart from the attacks, she said: "I loved him."

Mr Brooke alleged that the attack on the morning of November 1 was one in a series of acts by Pickard against his girlfriend. He said others included kidnapping her, smashing her car into a wall by ramming it with his own car, and harassing her with phone calls and text messages.

Miss Ackroyd told the court Pickard had seemed possessive, "not liking me going out without him or doing things without me."

On the night of October 31, they had been arguing. She wanted to go to sleep, but Pickard had hit her repeatedly, ultimately injuring her and leaving her in tears.

The incident only stopped when Pickard threatened to hang himself with his own belt.

Miss Ackroyd said Pickard had initially refused to take her to hospital, but had done so the following day.

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, April 27, 2005