A MAN who assaulted a woman and made further threats to harm her has been jailed for 16 weeks.

Todd James Edward Cooper of Thorney Hill, Bransgore admitted assault causing actual bodily harm following an incident at an address in Sway in the New Forest on September 8 last year.

The 26-year-old also admitted using abusive or threatening behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress after making threats to harm the victim almost a month later following a chance encounter.

Cooper also admitted causing damage to an address in Gore Road, New Milton and making threats to to kill another victim after they had witnessed the incident.

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Southampton magistrates' court heard the incidents took place between September 8 and October 8.

Following the sentencing, New Forest District Commander, Chief Inspector Helen Andrews, said: "We are pleased that justice has been served – this is a great result for those individuals who have been personally affected by the crimes committed by Cooper.

"We hope that this will go some way to comfort them and to see that the judge had handed down a sentence befitting of his crimes.

"We are thankful to all of those officers involved in bringing these charges to court and playing a key role in stopping his offending. No one should be abused in their own home or made to feel threatened and fearful for their life while out in public.

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"We hope that this sends out a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated and that those who commit them will face the full extent of the law and be brought to justice.

Cooper received 16 weeks of imprisonment for ABH, including a restraining order not to contact the victim.

He was also jailed for eight weeks for each case of threatening behaviour and four weeks for causing criminal damage. The cases wil run concurrently.

Cooper was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation.