A VIOLENT boyfriend whose partner said he appeared to "still love" his ex reacted by punching her in the face.

Mark Homer, 44, delivered what the frightened victim later told police was a powerful “upper cut” punch to her jaw, knocking her teeth together with such force that she was left in considerable pain.

The defendant, formerly of Cumberland Court, Denton Holme, Carlisle, pleaded guilty to an assault by beating.

At the city’s Rickergate court, prosecutor Peter Kelly said the victim met Homer “by chance” in November of 2021, at first striking up a friendship and then settling into a long-term relationship.

They spoke numerous times over the first six weeks and then spent time together in Carlisle, said he prosecutor. “Initially, things were okay,” said Mr Kelly.

“But as the relationship developed it became apparent that he had an issue with alcohol. She says that he disclosed to her during their relationship that that in his previous relationship he had been violent to his ex-partner.”

The woman spoke also of problems in her relationship with Homer, when at times he became “overly physical.”

Describing events on the day of the assault, on February 9, in Carlisle, Mr Kelly said Homer had taken alcohol and Xanax tablets, which were not given to him as part of any prescription.

Mr Kelly said: “She describes the defendant walking around her home, unable to settle. He came into the bedroom and she asked him to leave her alone. She said: ‘I was laid on the bed, trying to sleep.’

“He was alluding to his previous partner and she said he sounded like he still loved her.” It was at this point that Homer punched the woman.” The blow left her with painful teeth and a sore chin and jaw.

She said she did not dare answer back of challenge him.

The woman later visited a local pharmacy and told staff there what had happened. This was how the matter came to the attention of the police. The victim later said she believed herself to be “street-smart”, but at the time she began the relationship with Homer she was vulnerable because of a bereavement.

“This has completely knocked the stuffing out of me,” she said, adding that she wanted no further contact with Homer.

The defendant’s previous convictions, the court heard, included an harassment offence from October, 2020, and possessing an offensive weapon. He had also twice breached a restraining order.

Sean Harkin, defending, said the assault consisted of a single blow but he accepted there was no alternative to custody, given Homer’s offending record.

The court heard that Homer planned to return to the Manchester area when he is released from prison and he had no interest in trying to rekindle the relationship with the woman.

Magistrates jailed Homer for 18 weeks.

They also imposed a three-year non-contact restraining order. The defendant must pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge. “We think there was substantial force used,” said presiding magistrate Jeff Forster.