A judge has branded a man “heavy handed and brutish” after he attacked a woman he was dating.

Judge Simon Medland KC also said 57-year-old Darren Simpson behaved like an “utter pig”, when he carried out the assaults in August.

Preston Crown Court heard how Simpson and his victim had met online and began dating in April this year.

However, from May, the defendant began asking her questions about men she had previously dated and accused her of speaking with other men.

Megan Tollitt, prosecuting, said: “The defendant demanded to see her phone and check her messages.

“In August, after they had spent the day together, they went back to her Burnley apartment.

“They had been drinking and he accused her of chatting to other men.

“He threw her phone at her, and she went into the bedroom and sat on the bed, but he followed her, shoved her and slapped her to the face and head, and punched her to the leg.

“After that he went to sleep and in the morning he said sorry and returned to his own house.”

Ms Tollitt said later that month, August 28, the pair had attended a music festival in Colne and were heading home around 11.30pm.

Again, they had both been drinking, and she went to bed but left her phone in the kitchen.

Ms Tollitt said: “She heard the defendant shouting that someone had sent her a text asking her to go for a coffee.

“He went to the bedroom and threw her phone at her, and it hit her in the head, before he banged it on the table and it broke.

“He said she couldn’t be trusted and pulled her hair and punched her and kicked her.”

The victim suffered bruising and swelling in both incidents and had to take time off work as a result.

Simpson, of Fenpark Road, Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating and two counts of criminal damage.

Judge Medland said: “You have a number of previous convictions but the last one was more than 10 years ago.

“In August this year during the course of a relationship you behaved like an utter pig to a woman who was kind enough to be in a relationship with you.

“You were heavy handed and brutish towards her and she sustained an injury.

“You have absolutely no right to treat anyone like that.

“You fully understand that now you are not drinking and in the cold light of day and you are full of what appears to be genuine remorse for your actions.

“You are a hard working man in your trade and earning good money.

“This group of offences crosses the custody threshold however you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and you are in full time work.”

Simpson was jailed for eight months suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity days and was fined £1,500.

He must also pay £1,500 in compensation to his victim.

If he fails to pay the compensation or the fine he will be jailed for 56 days.