A MAN who barged into the house of a couple from Redlynch before punching a woman in the face, breaking her nose, has been jailed.

Mark Day, 29, who has a history of violent attacks, went into the house on Morgans Vale Road on January 5 while drunk and high on drugs.

He proceeded to make false accusations that one of the victims, Steven Robison, had been sleeping with his wife while he was in prison.

Mr Robison then phoned the police and Day became violent when he heard his name mentioned.

After losing his temper, Day punched him in the face before hitting Mr Robison’s partner Hannah Wright in the face – breaking her nose.

She has been left unable the breathe through the left side of her nose.

The attack happened while two children slept upstairs, and despite trying to hold Day down, he escaped.

After being traced and arrested by police, he was kept in custody before he was due to stand trial on Tuesday.

But on what was supposed to be the first day of the hearing at Salisbury Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and assault.

He had previously been jailed for three years in 2008 for wounding and for two years for the same offence in 2013.

Day, of Moot Close, Downton, was jailed for 18 months but as he had already spent six months in prison he could be released on licence within a couple of months once he has served half his sentence. The court heard he was sorry for causing the injury and asked for the prison term to be kept as short as possible.

Judge Keith Cutler said the attack had a serious effect on the victims but took into account the work he was doing in custody to improve his behaviour.

Judge Cutler said he hoped a pattern was not emerging and now he was entering his 30s, his violent offending would stop.

“Your surprising visit was not planned and it was not welcome,” he added.