A MAN has been jailed for attacking a woman in her home while she was asleep.

Michael Keenan, 66, viciously attacked his partner at her home in Westcliff on August 2 of this year while she was asleep.

The attack was fuelled by alcohol and resulted in the woman being hospitalised with serious injuries.

Keenan, who has a history of domestic violence, was arrested and charged with one count of causing the woman actual bodily harm (ABH) and initially denied the offence on September 27 and elected to go to trial at the magistrates court.

However, on the day the trial was due to start, at Southend Magistrates Court on November 15, Keenan changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced immediately.

Magistrates determined that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the severity of the attack and the defendant's history.

Keenan, who told the court he was suffering from problems with alcohol and mental health issues, was jailed for five months.

Chair of the bench Anne Wade said: "Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate as this was an unprovoked alcohol-fuelled attack on a vulnerable victim in her own home as she lay sleeping.

"The attack resulted in injury which required hospitalisation.

"An alternative to custody is not appropriate as the defendant entered a guilty plea on the day of trial and not before.

"He was offered Building Better Relationships training three years ago but goes on to commit this offence and has similar domestic violence convictions on previous partners. There is also a previous domestic violence history in this case involving this victim in recent months.

"While we note the alcohol issues and mental health concerns, we feel we have no alternative weighing all factors other than to impose an immediate custodial sentence."

Keenan was ordered to pay £250 in compensation, £115 to victim services and £250 in prosecution costs.

A one-year restraining order which prohibits him from contacting the victim or from visiting her home was also put in place once he was convicted.

For more information on what support is available if you are concerned about domestic violence, you can visit Essex Police's website at www.essex.police.uk/advice/domestic-abuse.

In an emergency, always call 999.