A MAN with a history of violence and harassment towards his partners has been jailed for 24 weeks.

Adam John Cousins’ latest girlfriend tried to take her life three weeks after he had punched her in the face in her own home, Liam O’Brien for the CPS told York Crown Court.

“That cannot be entirely unrelated,” said Judge Simon Hickey, sitting with two magistrates.

They heard that in 2014, Cousins had grabbed another girlfriend by the throat and thrown her to the floor.

When a court banned him from going near the earlier girlfriend or contacting her, he went to her house, sent her abusive messages and, in a case of revenge porn, sent a naked picture of her to her new partner.

The judge and magistrates rejected his appeal to the crown court against the 24-week jail sentence given to him by York magistrates for attacking his latest girlfriend at midnight.

Cousins, 36, formerly of Prospect Place, Pickering, had admitted assault on the third occasion his case was listed for trial.

For Cousins, Imran Khan said the 24-week sentence was only two weeks below the maximum sentence for unplanned assault.

He said Cousins should have had a bigger reduction for pleading guilty.

But the judge said he had many chances to plead guilty before he did.

Mr O’Brien said social services regarded the latest girlfriend as vulnerable because of the state of her mental health and her problems with alcohol and drugs.

After the case, a spokesman from IDAS, an independent specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting anyone experiencing or affected by domestic abuse, said: “If your partner has assaulted you or if they make you feel scared or anxious you may be experiencing domestic abuse.

“Our trained workers offer confidential, emotional and practical support to help keep you safe.

“You do not need to report to the police to get support.

“We can work with anyone who is at risk of harm or abuse from their partner or a family member.

“If you are afraid of your partner, whether or not there has been physical violence, you can get in touch with us on 03000 110 110 or visit our website idas.org.uk

“We would also urge anyone who is worried about a friend or family member to call us for advice.”