A controlling boyfriend has been jailed for attacking his partner when their 15 year-long relationship went on the rocks.

Phillip Hollis punched victim Siobhan Dooley repeatedly in the kitchen of their Newton Abbot home and left her with cuts and bruises to her face that needed hospital treatment.

He cut the phone landline to stop her calling the police and also sabotaged her phone charger before trashing his own home after she fled and took refuge with neighbours.

Hollis was jailed at Exeter Crown Court despite a plea for mercy from the victim who says she wants him home.

Hollis, aged 42, of Orleigh Cross, Newton Abbot, admitted causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was jailed for 14 months by Recorder Mr John Williams.

He told him:"I have heard the views of Miss Dooley and bear them in mind but I am quite clear it is my public duty to send you to prison immediately.

"I would like to think you are coming to terms with your behaviour but I have the gravest doubts about that, although I sentence you only for what has taken place.

"There are elements of control shown by the cutting of the telephone wires. This was a sustained assault on a lady who was vulnerable within her home. It was committed in the presence of children.

"There has been a gap of 14 years since your last offending but that was also domestic violence. On that occasion you received a course. It seems to have achieved very little."

Mr Jonathan Barnes, prosecuting, said the couple had been together for 15 and a half years and had two children.

They had an argument the previous day in which Miss Dooley said she was leaving Hollis. He was calm at first but told her if she had an affair with anyone else he put a knife through her chest.

When she tried to phone her mother he cut the phone wire. He also cut the wire of her mobile charger, leaving her unable to contact anyone.

She slept overnight on the sofa and was in the kitchen around noon the next day when he attacked her.

Mr Barnes said:"He suddenly punched her to the face and continued to punch her 15 to 20 times. At the time children were present and one tried to stop him, apparently successfully.

"Miss Dooley ran to the door and an ambulance was called. when she returned home after his arrest she found numerous items damaged."

These included a 46 inch television, a glass table, a glass TV stand, a printer, a Nintendo console, and a radiator. The total value of the damage was over £700.

Miss Dooley needed four stitches in a cut on her head and had severe bruising to her face, arms and chest.

Mr Barnes said she had told him she does not want a restraining order and wants Hollis home as soon as possible.

Mr Jeffrey Segan, mitigating, said Hollis has the support of his partner and has already learned his lesson by spending a month in custody since his arrest in early June.

He said Hollis had expressed remorse and admitted his offences immediately.