A MAN who grabbed his then partner by the throat and headbutted her outside the Harvester in Salisbury has been jailed.

Jamie Clarkson, of Grouse Road, Old Sarum, appeared for sentencing at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday after admitting offences of actual bodily harm, assaulting a police officer and two public order offences at a previous hearing.

The court heard at 12.30pm on November 24, the defendant was with his then partner at the Harvester near Castle Road. After a few drinks she said she had to go as she had work the next day. But Clarkson wanted to carry on drinking.

Salisbury Journal: JAILED: Jamie ClarksonJAILED: Jamie Clarkson

When she insisted she had to go, the 41-year-old threatened to “smash” her car before he grabbed her bag as she walked away. He chucked it over the top of a passing ambulance and threw it back when he went to get it.

He then pushed her before grabbing her by the throat with both hands.When he let go he lunged forward and headbutted her, which prosecutor Tim Hills said split the skin, “causing instant pain and bleeding”.

The attack was witnessed by Martin Lewis who rushed, bare footed, to help her and described the victim cowering in front of the traffic.

He told the defendant to leave her alone to which he responded: ‘What are you going to do? Want to fight me?’. Clarkson then charged at him, swinging his arms, and in response Mr Lewis struck a blow to the defendant’s face. However, Clarkson continued to charge at him. The court heard he was struck a second time causing him to fall in the road.

Clarkson was put in the recovery position and as he came around said how sorry he was and wanted to go home.

Passing motorists stopped and the police were called. The court heard Clarkson tried staggering down the road towards Salisbury.

When officers arrived he had a small cut to his left eye and smelt of alcohol. He had to be restrained by officers at the scene.

The court heard his behaviour was “volatile” and he would be quiet one minute and aggressive the next. When he was told he had to be taken to hospital he swore and spat at one of the officers, which missed. He said sorry for spitting but then started swearing again.

At Salisbury District Hospital he continued to “act in an abusive way”, swearing and making threats directed at the officer saying he would hunt him and his family down. He then started hitting his head against the wall and had to be restrained, which is when he was arrested for a public order offence. He was seen by a doctor but did not need treatment.

In a statement from the victim, read out in court, she said there were still mental scars which would never go away and she had felt “low self esteem” and “self worth”. She said it had had a “huge detrimental impact” on her mental health and that she wanted to try and rebuild her life.

Defending, Robert Grey, said: “He accepts it is completely unacceptable behaviour and wrong for him to have acted this way.”

He said Clarkson had borderline personality disorder and problems with alcohol.

Judge Richard Parkes QC said: “This was utterly deplorable behaviour by a grown man against a woman who was not of your strength. Completely condemnable behaviour fuelled by drink.”

He said this was not the first incident he had been violent towards the victim.

Clarkson was sentenced to a total of 13 months in prison and given a restraining order for five years.

A victim surcharge was also imposed.