A TEENAGER who kicked, punched and beat his girlfriend with a wooden plank in a terrifying assault at her home has been jailed for 16 months.

Michael Kenyon, 19, of Halstead Road, Newport, "lost his temper" after his girlfriend suspected him of sending text messages to another woman on January 5, Newport Crown Court heard on Friday.

He followed the woman to her bedroom before chasing her downstairs where he pushed her to the floor.

Andrew Jones, prosecuting, said: "The defendant then went to the garden where he picked up a plank with a nail in it and said to the complainant 'See this I am going to kill you with it.

"She was petrified and ran to the bathroom where he kicked the door in.

"The victim was on the floor and was subjected to repeated punches to the face and he admits kicking her while she was on the floor.

"He pressed a plank with a nail in it towards her face and said 'Stand up or I am going to smash this in your face'.

Kenyon swung the plank and it connected with the victim, causing injuries to her hip and leg.

The victim's sister who was in the house alerted police and the defendant was arrested at the scene, while the victim was taken to hospital.

The court heard that prior to the assault there had been other violent incidents in the relationship.

Tim Evans, defending, said Kenyon made a full and frank admission to police at the first opportunity.

He pleaded guilty to the charge of ABH at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that Kenyon had suffered from difficulties resulting from an "abusive" upbringing.

He had developed psychiatric difficulties as a result of using cannabis, which his parents had used when he was a child.

But since the assault, Kenyon has signed up to courses to learn to read and write and says he does not want to spend life in and out of prison, the court heard.

"His words were 'I will do my best'," said Mr Evans. "He has a child and he does not want his child to think that the way he behaved is how a man should."

Kenyon was under a two year suspended sentence for a previous conviction of battery in September 2015 and was also resentenced for these incidents.

Judge Harris-Jenkins gave Kenyon maximum credit for his early guilty plea and said he had shown "genuine remorse".

Kenyon was sentenced to 16 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140.