A woman suffered a broken nose and cheekbone after being attacked by her violent ex-boyfriend outside her home.

Claire Pinches and Justin Hodgetts got into an argument at a takeaway before she left in a taxi, Worcester Crown Courtr heard.

But when she returned to her Worcester home in the early hours, Hodgetts ambushed her from behind a car on her driveway, said William Rickarby, prosecuting.

He grabbed her around the throat, pinned her against the car and punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground. Neighbours told police they thought Hodgetts was going to kill her and intervened to stop the attack.

Hodgetts, aged 36, of Drake's Avenue, Dines Green, Worcester, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge Andrew Geddes said Hodgetts posed a significant risk of serious harm to the public and jailed him for two-and-a-half years.

He must serve half the sentence before being considered for release by the parole board, but may have to serve the full jail term. The judge also extended his licence period on release to three years.

Hodgetts had 58 previous offences on his record, including 10 for violence. One was for wounding a former girlfriend and another was actual bodily harm on another partner.

The attack on Miss Pinches was on May 7 last year after the defendant had been drinking heavily.

Michael Aspinall, defending, said the couple were now reconciled and she had visited Hodgetts in prison. She had retracted a number of statements made to police, but not through fear, he insisted.

Mr Aspinall said Hodgetts did not accept he had punched the victim. He said he acted in self-defence when she attacked him, and she was injured when she accidentally fell over.

The judge said the defendant had tried to shift the blame but must begin to accept responsibility for his behaviour.