A FORMER drug dealer who smashed his partner's jaw in a violent attack has been jailed for 21 months.

Jealous Raymond Dagostino rained heavy punches on his girlfriend after they had argued in a Chippenham pub.

Following the 34-year-old's arrest she revealed he had assaulted her months earlier as he prevented her from leaving the house.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the couple had been together for about six months before the final attack in March this year.

At first he had been kind to her and she had told him that she had been in an abusive relationship in the past.

But by Christmas he had started to become possessive and jealous, and she suspected he was talking to other women online and in person.

In mid-December they were living in a shared house when a fellow occupant was so concerned about their arguing he recorded 52 minutes of it on his phone.

Miss Hingston said she can be heard saying 'let me go, let me go' and at one point she tries to climb out of a first floor window on to a flat roof.

She then tried to get away by going down the stairs and as he grabbed at her she fell down the last five steps.

The court heard she would not make a complaint to the police after that incident but he attacked her again on March 7.

They had been arguing in the pub about him speaking to other women and she accepted slapping him round the face in anger, as he was taunting her.

After they left the bar he pushed her forcefully to the ground and when they arrived home he grabbed round the throat then punched her as she was going to leave.

He was then apologetic before raining a further burst of punches on her, one of which is thought to have caused the fracture.

When she told police about the earlier incident she said he had been angry as he thought she had moved his drugs, though he insists it was over rent money.

Dagostino, of Pavely Close, Chippenham, admitted false imprisonment, common assault and grievous bodily harm.

The court heard he had a series of previous convictions including a lengthy jail term in 2015 for drug supply.

Mark Ashley, defending, said his client had accepted his behaviour 'was not what it should have been'.

He said he understands that the relationship is over and said while it is no excuse to say she slapped him first, he was provoked before losing his temper.

Jailing him Judge Jason Taylor QC said "You now admit that you lost it. That is backed up by when her mother and stepfather arrived you pushed her to the floor.

"It is clear from personal statements she may now have moved past you, but your overall behaviour had an affect both physically and emotionally.

"Behind closed doors you did exhibit a pattern of controlling and possessive behaviour."

As well as jailing him he also imposed a restraining order to keep him away from his victim.