A TIDWORTH man who assaulted his former partner in a play park has been jailed for almost two years.

Kelvin Spooner breached a restraining order when he approached his ex-partner in the play park near Zouch Avenue, Tidworth, before twice hitting her around the face and causing swelling to her ear.

He had been on a suspended prison sentence at the time of the offence.

The 28-year-old was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaching a restraining order and was found guilty of one count of common assault.

He was also given a ten-year restraining order.

Spooner and his former partner separated in February 2018. He was issued with a restraining order by Salisbury Crown Court on November 16, 2018.

However, throughout the following year he made contact with his ex-partner on a number of occasions through social media messages of an abusive nature as well as approaching her in her vehicle in September and threatening her.

In November, Spooner breached the order again and approached the woman in the play park near Zouch Avenue.

He assaulted her by hitting her around the face causing swelling to her ear before following her from the area and shouting threats towards her.

Sgt Russell Griffin said: “Spooner has shown absolute disregard for the courts and has been brazen in the way he has continued to breach the restraining order.

"Back in November he assaulted her in a local play park. This is completely unacceptable behaviour and I am pleased he has been given a custodial sentence.

“I would like to praise the victim for the bravery she has shown in reporting her concerns and providing statements to the court to ensure this violent man was imprisoned. I understand that reporting any kind of domestic abuse can be extremely difficult, but I’d urge anyone suffering to reach out for help.

“Nobody should have to put up with this kind of violent behaviour from someone they have been in, or continue to be in, a relationship with.

"There is support available for victims of domestic abuse and this information can be found on the Wiltshire Police website.”

If you are in an abusive relationship, call 101 or 999 in an emergency.