A Letchworth man repeatedly convicted of beating up a woman has been put behind bars.

Stevenage magistrates heard on Wednesday that Dean Kerneghan, 38, had assaulted a woman on June 20 this year – three months after receiving a suspended sentence for a similar offence committed against the same victim in December.

Kerneghan pleaded guilty, having previously indicated a not guilty plea.

Chair of the bench Susan Burnett handed him an 18-week jail sentence and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

A 16-week suspended sentence imposed by Stevenage magistrates in March was also implemented as a 12-week consecutive sentence, making a total jail term of 30 weeks.

The bench also imposed a restraining order to prevent Kerneghan from contacting the victim until July 2018.