An Ipswich man who controlled his girlfriend by locking her in her flat, taking away her mobile phone and preventing her from seeing family and friends has been jailed for 20 months.

Lincoln Altham had also punched Casey Burrows to the head and face causing her nose to bleed and to fear he was going to kill her, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When she pointed out the bruises he had caused Altham told her: “They are beautiful,” said Peter Gair, prosecuting.

On another occasion Altham had run at Miss Burrows causing her to hit her head on a wall.

Altham, 21, of Fore Street, Ipswich, admitted using controlling behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm and assault by beating.

The court heard that the couple’s relationship began in January and had initially been good.

However in September Miss Burrows described things as getting “really bad” with Altham assaulting her on two occasions and controlling her by locking her in her flat, taking away her mobile phone and preventing her from seeing her friends and family.

Hugh Vass for Altham described his client as immature and said he had expressed remorse.