A violent thug who grabbed his ex-partner by the throat when she was pinned to the bed before slamming her head against the floor has been jailed.

Ryan Woodier reacted angrily when his victim challenged him about messages on his phone.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 27-year-old was already serving a suspended sentence for domestic abuse against the same woman.

A judge heard how Woodier scratched his victim’s face during the tussle before slamming her head against the floor and fleeing the scene saying – “If you ring the police I will give you something to go to the police for”.

Woodier, of Creswell Close, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault following his attack on October 5 last year.

Michele Turner, mitigating, said her client had spent more than five months on remand following his arrest which was comparable with an applicable jail sentence.

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She said Woodier now accepts that the on/off relationship is over and wants to address his behaviour while in a relationship.

Recorder Ayesha Smart sentenced Woodier to eight weeks in prison and imposed an additional 50 hours of unpaid work for the breach of his suspended sentence.

She said: “This is your last chance, commit any further offences; it will be custody and your suspended sentence will be activated.

Woodier was also issued with a five-year restraining order to protect his victim in the future.