WEST DORSET: A man has been jailed for six-and-a-half years after launching a “sustained and frightening attack” on a man and woman in a “jealous fit of rage”.

Marcus Coutain, 42, of Greenway Close, London, was given the sentence at Dorchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to two charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent after assaulting Emma Molesworth and David Sottile at their home in Lyme Regis in April this year.

Coutain was given two sentences of six-and-a-half years and a one-month sentence for possession of cannabis, all to run concurrently. 

Prosecutor Mr Richard Onslow said Coutain travelled down from London to spend time with Emma Molesworth in the week prior to April 5, but Ms Molesworth “regretted” inviting him and arranged for him to stop at a mutual friend's house in Bridport before another friend, David Sottile, arrived at her flat. 

Mr Onslow told the court just before 8am on April 5, Coutain climbed through a window of Ms Molesworth's ground floor flat in Lyme Regis into her bedroom, and attacked David Sottile. 

Mr Onslow said: “In a fit of jealous rage, the defendant attacked him in a ferocious way.

“He punched him to the face a number of times, and held his hands around his neck.

“Ms Molesworth then tried to intervene, but the defendant turned on her and started hitting her. She then dialled 999, which gave Mr Sottile the chance to escape and go to a next door neighbour's house.”

The court was then played a recording of the 999 call that Ms Molesworth made to police, as Coutain continued to attack her and loud screams from Ms Molesworth could be heard, as well as threats being made to Ms Molesworth and her repeatedly asking Coutain to stop.

Mr Onslow said police arrived shortly after 8am and found Coutain at a nearby bridge and arrested him following a struggle. When he was searched, police found a pair of nunchucks on him and a small amount of cannabis, Mr Onslow said.

Mr Onslow told the court both Mr Sottile and Ms Molesworth suffered “serious injuries” in the attack, with Mr Sottile sustaining a broken jaw, a fractured eye socket and three cuts to the face, with Ms Molesworth suffering a broken nose and a fractured eye socket.

Mr Onslow added: “It was plainly a severe and sustained attack.”

In mitigation, defence barrister Mr Patrick Harte said Coutain had not “embarked on a train journey from London to wreak havoc”.

Mr Harte added: “He accepts that he has caused great damage. When he heard the recording of the call it made him realise how terrified his ex-girlfriend had been and when he saw the photographs he was shocked that he caused this damage.

“He is absolutely sorry he caused these injuries and the fear they must have endured at his hands.”

Passing down the sentence, Judge Johnson also gave Coutain another one-month prison sentence, to run concurrently, for possession of cannabis and ordered an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the two victims and a destruction order on the nunchucks.

Bridport Police Insp Mike Darby said: "I am very pleased with the significant sentence.

"It was an unprovoked, vicious attack and three of my officers were assaulted during his arrest."