A man has been jailed for 26 weeks for a series of assaults - two of which were against his ex-partner.

Bernard Arthur Conlin, of no fixed address, appeared before Carlisle’s magistrates’ court on Tuesday for three assaults at Park Foot campsite near Ullswater on July 26 and an earlier assault between July 3 and July 17.

Prosecutor David Kelly, told the court the victim, Claire Charlton, had been in a relationship with Conlin for about four weeks and known him for seven years. After a positive start to the relationship things turned sour.

“The first incident was two weeks ago. Initially the relationship was very good. She says for whatever reason that problems developed quite early. They were planning a trip out and she made a mistake with the route.”

Miss Charlton had ordered the wrong bus journey, at which point Conlin became angry.

“The defendant became aggressive and backed her into a corner and grabbed her by the throat,” continued Mr Kelly. “He squeezed her causing pain. When she indicated she wanted to call the police, he slapped her across the face.”

At this point, Miss Charlton told Conlin that if she was attacked again by him, that the relationship would be over.

On July 26 the pair were part of a bigger group, including children, who attended the campsite. Having been drinking, the group stopped at about 9.30pm.

However, Conlin continued to consume alcohol. He later went to Miss Charlton, but was told she didn’t want to get involved.

He then attacked her, grabbing her by the throat and shaking her, before onlooker Ryan Woodey intervened. Conlin, 28, then spat at him

Angus Westgarth, defending, told the court that in the first attack both Miss Charlton and Conlin “went at each other, but he accepts his assault was unlawful”.

Mr Westgarth said his client had been battling an alcohol and drugs problem.