A MAN who stamped on his former partner’s face during a row at his Southampton home has been jailed.

Lee Walker shoved his foot over the mouth of his ex-partner and held it there to “shut her up”, a court heard.

The 44-year-old also stamped on her hair during the attack, which took place after she turned up drunk at his home.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Walker had rushed back to the property, in Lodge Road, after receiving a text from his ex-girlfriend, who had used a set of keys to access his home.

When Walker arrived, he found his former partner, who was said to be “very drunk”.

He attempted to physically remove her from the house, when she fell to the ground at the front door.

While on the floor, Walker stamped on her hair before delivering another stamp to her face, before using his foot to cover he mouth for around 30 seconds.

A passer-by saw the incident and called police, resulting in Walker leaving the area.

He was later arrested in a bar.

Mitigating, Mark Florida-James said Walker, who was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) following a crown court trial, needed to engage with support services if he was to make a “positive change” in his life.

Judge Christopher Parker QC jailed Walker, who now lives in Wyndham Road, Salisbury, for 16 months.

He said: “She was particularly vulnerable, not only because of her personal circumstances, but also because she was drunk.

“The injuries she sustained including bruises to her face and around her eye, as well as a small amount of bleeding.

“You could have caused much more damage than you did.”