A 23-year-old man Evesham man who beat up the mother of his young son after spending the night with her has been jailed for six months at Worcester Crown Court.

An argument began after she received a text message and there was violence on both sides, said Francis Laird, defending.

Steven Thorn, of Temple Mews, Littleworth Street, pleaded guilty to assaulting Deborah Ellison on July 17 causing her actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Brett Stevenson said the couple began a relationship in 2001 and a son was born. The relationship had always been stormy and magistrates made a restraining order which was in effect at the time of the offence.

Thorn was released from prison last February and arrangements were made for him to see his son. Miss Ellison spent the night at his flat but he punched her in the face and she was bruised all over her body. At one stage he pinned her to the bed and threatened to kill her, said Mr Stevenson. Miss Ellison had a cut inside her mouth and was badly bruised.

Mr Laird conceded it was not an attractive picture featuring domestic violence. But Miss Ellison had contacted Thorn and had sex with him before the attack.

Thorn had a drug problem in the past but had been undergoing rehabilitation in prison.

Recorder Roger Evans in court on Monday said he was concerned about Thorn's pattern of behaviour but felt that the parents should learn to co-operate for the benefit of the child.