A “VIOLENT” and “jealous” man who subjected his ex-girlfriend to a series of assaults over a four-day period has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Adam Jackson Neal had been in a relationship with former Lancashire Detective Constable Lyndsey Vaughton but when that ended she successfully obtained a non-molestation order against him.

But the court heard the pair had “voluntary contact” in December but that turned sour on December 13 when 31-year-old Neal found out about a brief fling Ms Vaughton had with another man.

Prosecutor Claire Lawton described how over the following four days, Neal, of South Street, Accrington, subjected Ms Vaughton to a string of assaults, which included hair pulling, hitting, kicking and strangling.

Ms Lawton said: “The couple had been in a relationship. They had split 12 months before the incident. The complainant had obtained the non-molestation order. But I have to concede they were in a period of reconciliation.

“She was voluntarily having some contact with the defendant, despite the existence of the order at the time.

“On December 13 the complainant had what she described as a ‘brief fling, with a man called Scott. The defendant became jealous and angry. They had had an argument in which he pulled her hair, put his arms around her throat and pushed her against a cupboard. He was kicking her knees and spitting upon her.”

The court heard later the same day the pair had another argument and Neal hit Ms Vaughton to the face and eye and kneed her to the leg.

Ms Lawton said the following morning Neal pinned his victim to the bed, pulled her hair and demanded to know more details about her relationship with Scott.

On December 16, the pair had gone to Accrington and another argument had developed. Again, Neal puled Ms Vaughton’s hair and called her names.

Ms Lawton said: “On this occasion an injury was caused to the complainant - a cut behind her ear. The defendant was saying to the complainant she’d ‘turned him into this monster’.”

The final attack took place on December 17 when Neal grabbed her by the hair when she was leaving the house and dragged her into a car.

Neal, who has previous convictions for robbery and threatening a witness with violence, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm, three counts of common assault by beating and breaching a non-molestation order. Most of the offences took place at Ms Naughton’s CLitheroe home.

Defending Adam Watkins said: “The defendant behaved pretty appallingly over those four of five days. They had reconciled. That was entirely mutual. They had been back together for six to eight weeks or so. Sadly he acted badly.”

Neal was jailed for eight months.

Judge Beverley Lunt said: “You have got some nasty violence on your record.

“This relationship is over. Treat it like that,”

Judge Lunt imposed a four-year restraining order banning Neal from contacting Ms Vaughton.