A Cirencester man has been jailed after repeatedly assaulting a woman.

Adam Saunders - who also used the name Savory - was jailed for 15 months at Gloucester Crown Court on February 10 after he admitted assaulting the woman three times between June and September last year as well as damaging her home.

On one occasion he slapped her face, pulled her hair and grabbed her round the throat, covering her mouth so she could not breathe, said prosecutor Neil Treharne.

The barrister read a victim statement in which she said: "There have been numerous times when I could have taken my own life.

"I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. I don't know whether I will ever recover.

"I don't know why he has been so horrible when all I have tried to do is support him.

"There were points in our relationship when I wondered if he would ever stop hurting me. I just want to know how I can end this pain and suffering."

Mr Treharne told the court that Saunders once kicked her on the hip, causing a bruise, and she fled to the bathroom and locked herself in but he pursued her with a knife and tried to get in.

Saunders has 37 previous convictions for 135 offences going back to 2007.

Alex Daymond, defending, said "I gather she still hopes there can be a relationship between the two of them.

"This lady says that deep down the defendant is a decent man. But that decent man is lost somewhere in a host of problems which stem from a horrendous childhood.

"He went into care at the age of 15. He also has a long standing drug problem and has been diagnosed with ADHD.

"Custody is not going to change him. He has spent much of the last five years in custody and has not learned anything from it.

"He is ashamed of what he has done."

The judge, Recorder Richard Mawhinney, passed a 15 month immediate jail term on Saunders, telling him "I do accept there is remorse on your part. I also take into account matters that affected you in your early life."