A man who punched his partner's head against a wall, causing bleeding on the brain, has won a cut in his jail term.

Mark Andrew Humphreys, 43, of Spruce Avenue, Colchester, was jailed for four years at Chelmsford Crown Court in January after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The judge at Chelmsford also imposed an extended term of a year, meaning if he took one step out of line in the 12 months after his release, he could be recalled to prison.

London's Criminal Appeal Court yesterday concluded both terms were wrong in principle, cutting the jail term to two-and-a-half years and quashing the extended term.

Mr Justice Moses, sitting with Mr Justice Royce, said a longer than normal jail sentence and an extended term could only be imposed where there was a need to protect the public from serious harm.

Published Friday, October 8, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette