A “COWARDLY” soldier who punched his girlfriend’s mother after she tried in vain to protect her daughter has been jailed for 14 months.

Nathan Bonner, who served with 1 Rifles until going absent without leave, admitted assault and battery following the alcohol-fuelled assault on January 1 this year.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Clifford Grier said violence had flared after Bonner, 21, and his girlfriend had gone out to celebrate New Year and arrived back at the home she shared with her mother.

Mr Grier added: “He became more emotional and aggressive.

His girlfriend went to her mother’s bedroom and he followed her, screaming and grabbing her wrists. He pushed her back, causing her to hit her head against a wall.

“When his girlfriend’s mother saw him about to strike her daughter, she tried to restrain him.

“He struck her in the face and when she attempted to get up, he punched her again to the head.

“She fell to the floor and was repeatedly punched. She tried to defend herself but couldn’t speak because her mouth was full of blood.

“She tried to crawl but the defendant pulled her back by the hair and kicked her arm.”

His girlfriend fled in terror and when her mother saw Bonner, from The Circle, Moordown, Bournemouth, holding a kitchen knife she also made her escape, seeking refuge in a neighbour’s flat until police arrived.

Bonner’s girlfriend suffered bruising and swelling while her badly bruised mother needed an operation to have a nasal splint inserted.

Defending, Nigel Mitchell said Bonner had served in Afghanistan, adding: “He gave it all up to be with his girlfriend, going absent without leave.

“Their relationship was destined never to work. Both were very jealous and would drink to excess. He is desperately ashamed of what he did that night.”

Imposing a restraining order, Judge John Harrow told him: “This was a sustained attack on both women and cowardly behaviour.

“Domestic violence is always regarded very seriously by the courts. You went further than that. Not only did you set about your partner but when her mother tried to intervene you also punched and hit her a number of times.”