A JUDGE was astounded at the paltry sentence he could pass on a thug who launched three violent attacks on his partner and mother.

After hearing the catalogue of violence, which involved bites, kicks, punches and a knife, Judge Euan Ambrose said: “All of that: the most I can give him is six months?”

Grant Wyatt was released on bail after the vicious assault on his mum while already on bail for attacking the mother of his children. And weeks later, the 22-year-old went to his ex-girlfriend’s house and launched a third attack, arming himself with a knife.

But because he was only ever charged with common assault, the judge was restricted to imposing no more than six months for all of the assaults.

However by committing the offences Wyatt breached a suspended sentence and the judge activated it in full and added it to the jail term.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said the first incident took place in August when he attacked his then girlfriend, less than two weeks after a domestic violence protection order ended. He came home drunk and slapped, kicked, bit and punched her before she fled the house and he locked her out.

He was charged and bailed. He then appeared at his mum’s house drunk at 7am on October 8 saying she owed him £4,000. After shouting in her face and throwing a loudspeaker and a chair at her, he grabbed her by the throat and put his fingers in her mouth to scratch the inside of her cheek. He tried to bite her forehead, though she bit his finger to get free only for him to punch her several times before banging her head on wooden floor and kicking her.

Mr Meeke said Wyatt’s mum told police: “It’s been extremely difficult to support this prosecution against my son. I wouldn’t have done this unless I had to. I want Grant to have a fresh start and change his behaviour so it doesn’t happen again.”

Mr Meeke said he was charged the same day and brought before the court in custody, but was later freed on bail.

The last incident took place six weeks later on November 20 when he went to his ex-girlfriend’s house and dragged her around the kitchen by her hair. He later grabbed a knife which he waved about in front of her and other friends.

He threw the knife at her, the handle striking her head and breaking, before tipping a sofa on to her and throwing a bucket of water which had been used to clean the floor over her.

Wyatt, of Mulberry Grove, Pinehurst, pleaded guilty to five common assaults, two criminal damages and breaching a suspended sentence imposed for racially aggravated assault.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said his client knew he faced custody but said he lived with his new girlfriend where there had not been any problems.

Jailing him for 18 months, Judge Ambrose said: “It has to be said that some of these offences could have been charged with a more serious offence and there is no doubt they would have attracted sentences longer than six months.”