A FATHER-of-four has been jailed for five years after beating up a woman friend in a drunken rage.

Steven Blount, who is more than 6ft tall, caused serious injuries to 5ft 4in Karen Price and she is left with permanent scars, Worcester Crown Court was told.

The 33-year-old admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judge Richard Rundell told him: "You committed a violent and sustained attack on a woman far smaller than you. You caused serious harm, some of which will be with her for the rest of her life."

Stephen Thomas, prosecuting, said Blount formed a relationship last August with Miss Price, who had four children, and would sometimes stay at her house.

On Monday, January 8, the couple had been drinking at her sister's house and when they went home, Blount invited another person back with them.

The drinking continued until the other person left at 11.30pm.

In an argument which followed, Miss Price berated Blount for inviting a stranger into her home and for drinking too much. He jumped to his feet and gave her a backhanded blow, which knocked her to the floor.

Squeeze

Mr Thomas said Blount grabbed Miss Price round the throat and started to squeeze. She tried to fight him off but it was an unequal contest and she finished with her head in an armlock.

He applied more pressure and at one stage she thought she was going to die. She thought she might have gone unconscious as he rained blows on her head and face. Suddenly he stopped, cupped her chin in his hands and said sorry.

X-rays revealed Miss Price had two fractures of a cheekbone and a broken eye socket. An operation was carried out to insert metal plates in her cheek and repair the eye socket. Her cheek would remain numb forever.

After the incident, Blount, of Vicarage Court, St Paul's Street, Worcester, had sent text messages of apology to her mobile phone.

His barrister, Heidi Kubik, said he was genuinely remorseful and was anxious for a letter of apology to be passed to Miss Price.

He was not aware of the extent of the injuries he had caused. He had lost his temper and was in such a frenzy he had no recollection of what had happened.

Since being on remand in prison, he had taken steps to cope with his alcohol problem.