A JEALOUS young man who forced his girlfriend to give him the password to her Facebook account by beating her with a hammer, wept in the dock (Thur) as he was jailed.

The court heard how Oscar Blackall became so obsessed about knowing what his girlfriend was doing, that he tortured her with a hammer until she gave him her login.

The 20-year-old man had previously become furious with his partner Alyshia Connorton, when he broke her laptop when she wanted to watch a film by herself in another room in her home in London Road, Newbury, rather than paying attention to him.

Judge Emma Nott, told Blackall: "Each time you asked her to log in to Facebook so you could monitor her activity. Each time you hit her harder for your wholly unreasonable demand.

"While it is right that you caused no fractures, the sustained assault with a hammer left bruising followed by kicking, effectively leaving the victim black and blue," she added.

The victim's evidence was read aloud by the prosecution, regarding her love for him and ongoing hope that he'd receive a lenient community sentence.

Ms Connorton said: "We have been together for so many years, what he has done is completely wrong but I have no ill will towards him and I do believe he has taken responsibility for his actions.

"This said he does need help. I would like him to receive anger management which is enough."

Blackall, of no fixed abode, was given a 16 month custodial sentence and a five year restraining order.

Defending the case, John Barnard said: "Mr Blackall has already spent 55 days in custody and there were no serious injuries."

The judge rebutted the no injury claim by saying: "It is a quite deliberate sustained assault with a hammer and he finished it with his feet. There was a multiplicity of injuries, how is it anything other than greater harm?"

The victim had to go to hospital after sustaining multiple injuries, for soft tissue damage and was given head injury advice.

Blackall started to break down in tears as the judge continued with her sentence.

The judge continued: "The victim statement shows her ongoing love for you and she wishes that you get help, she feels that you have been punished enough.

"But the court must sentence you for what you have done and the risk that you pose."