A man who broke his girlfriend's nose and fractured her cheekbone when he punched her in the face was jailed for 19 months.

Craig Bellamy (21) was hailed a hero in September this year when he alerted CCTV cameramen to a fire ripping through a restaurant in Lincoln's upper High Street.

But within days, Bellamy punched his partner Stacey Meik in the face as she lay in bed, breaking her nose, fracturing her cheekbone and chipping a tooth.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the couple had been drinking with friends at a party on Maple Street, off Newark Road, Lincoln.

Rob Townsend, prosecuting, said Miss Meik went to bed at 2.15am but was then woken by Bellamy who asked her to come downstairs.

Mr Townsend said Miss Meik told Bellamy to "leave her alone", but he responded by punching her leg and the left side of her jaw.

Bellamy left the room but returned a couple of minutes later and again punched Miss Meik to the face.

Miss Meik later attended Lincoln County Hospital where she needed surgery to correct a fractured cheekbone.

The assault put Bellamy in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in April for his involvement in an assault which left a Lincoln man with a broken hand.

Bellamy was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for two years, 12 months supervision and 120 hours community service.

He failed to attend Lincoln Crown Court last month when he was due to sentenced for the attack on Miss Meik.

Bellamy, of no fixed address, admitted assaulting Miss Meik in September this year.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to his bail and assaulting Mr Dunbar in March, last year.

Judge John Machin sentenced Bellamy to 15 months imprisonment for the attack on Miss Meik.

Bellamy will also have to serve the three-month suspended sentence and a further month for breaching his bail.

For the full story see Saturday's Lincolnshire Echo.