A MAN who subjected his wife to a prolonged and violent beating has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Geoffrey Peter Hales, 28, trampled on Rebecca Hughes, pushed her down a flight of stairs, kicked her in the stomach, forcibly prevented her from leaving their flat and banged her head against a wall, Simon Jack, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.

The 12 jurors took less than 20 minutes to reject Hales's account that Ms Hughes caused her injuries herself by bizarre behaviour while high on drink and medication.

Immediately after the unanimous guilty verdict Mr Jack said Hales was on probation at the time for criminal damage, threatening behaviour, driving at someone and other offences.

"All the offences relate to Ms Hughes's family, if not to her directly," he said.

Defence barrister Andrew Stranex said Hales had told him the offences were not against Ms Hughes's family.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, jailed Hales, no fixed address, for causing actual bodily harm to Ms Hughes. He had denied the charge.

The judge added three months for butting a police officer after his arrest at the then marital home in Telford Terrace, South Bank, an offence which Hales admitted, and six months for the offences for which he was on probation.

Referring to the wife-beating offence, the judge told Hales: "You are also a total humbug and hypocrite in relation to the defence you put up.

"Fortunately, the jury saw through you."

The jury heard that Ms Hughes suffered extensive bruising on her face and all over her body in the onslaught from Hales.

She eventually managed to get help by running upstairs to another flat and alerting a neighbour, who called the police.

Updated: 11:09 Saturday, May 17, 2003