A PERSHORE man attacked his ex-wife and stole a giro cheque from his daughter, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Dean John Davis, aged 35, of High Street, was jailed for a total of 12 months.

He had been committed for sentence last Friday by magistrates after admitting nine offences.

He had pleaded guilty to five offences of theft, two of obtaining property by deception, common assault and burglary. The court heard that Davis had more than 160 previous convictions.

Tracey Lloyd-Nesling, prosecuting, said Davis stole £20 from his ex-wife Tina's television meter, kept his daughter Katie's benefit giro then cashed it at Pershore Post Office, and, on three occasions, stole two bottles of whisky from the Co-op in Pershore.

She also told the court that Davis slapped his ex-wife around the head and punched her in the face during an argument.

He also took a giro cheque and cigarettes from the home of an acquaintance before cashing the giro.

Simon Phillips, defending, said: "He is someone who commits low level crime on a regular basis and he has sunk to such a level that he assaults his own wife and steals from his own daughter."

Recorder John Denniss said that Davis had serious mental health problems and a serious record of petty dishonesty. He described the offences against members of his own family as "mean".