A DRUG abusing father of three was branded a danger to the public when he was locked up for 30 months for repeatedly beating his partner.

Following one horrific assault in which he pinned her defenceless to the bed and punched her, Carl Jennings, pictured, repeatedly refused to let Laura McCarthy go to hospital although she was lying in agony with her face and nose swelling.

Jennings did not relent until the following day when it was discovered she had suffered a fractured cheekbone and nose, with a prognosis she would need further treatment to aid her breathing.

After being arrested, he was released on bail and attacked her on two further occasions.

Southampton Crown Court heard of the violent four month relationship which she suffered at the hands of the career criminal with a history of violence.

Prosecutor Carl Anderson outlined how within two weeks of getting together, they argued outside her flat and he dragged her inside.

A neighbour called the police but she refused to speak to them because she was in fear of him.

A few weeks later, Jennings accused of her being unfaithful and slapped her across the face half a dozen times, causing a nose bleed, and bit her ear.

ñ Weeks after breaking her nose and cheekbone, he kicked her on the ankle and after she had retaliated by kicking him back, he slapped her across the face and then put his wrists around her throat. As she choked, he laughed.

The relationship eventually came to an end after he had again slapped her in the face and bit her nose.

When she tried to go to a neighbour to raise the alarm, he held her down.

However, said Mr Anderson, a police officer phoned her about an earlier assault and realising she was upset, sent colleagues to her flat.

Said to have 19 previous convictions involving 95 offences including robbery and violence, Jennings, 34, of Irving Road, Southampton, admitted two counts of causing actual bodily harm, two of common assault and one of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Judge Derwin Hope told Jennings he posed an extremely high high risk of reoffending and a serious risk of causing harm especially to women and if he returned to taking class A drugs.

I am glad you accept you must alter your whole approach to life or you will receive longer and longer terms of imprisonment.

In addition to the jail sentence, Jennings also received a 20 month extended licence.

In mitigation, Daniel Jameson said he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and acknowledged he had a problem curbing his temper. During the relationship, he began abusing drugs again but had since sought help with his addiction.

He accepts what he has done is wrong and feels terrible about it."