A MAN has been jailed for punching and hospitalising a 'vulnerable' man after entering his caravan whilst he was sleeping in bed.

Jordan Hayward, aged 28, left his victim with a fractured eye socket and nose when he entered his caravan at Parkdean, West Bay, in the early hours of the morning and punched him 10 times.

Appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court last Thursday, Hayward was given an immediate custodial sentence.

Hayward was sentenced for one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent in relation to an incident which took place almost four years ago in August, 2018.

The defendant appeared in court via a live video link from HMP Winchester, having been given a prison sentence for an unrelated offence in March this year.

Prosecuting, Graham Gilbert, told the court that on August 30, 2018, in the early hours of the morning, the victim, whose caravan was at Parkdean Holiday Park in West Bay, was in bed with his girlfriend and was awoken after two women entered the caravan screaming and shouting followed by a man who also entered the caravan and punched him repeatedly in the head.

Mr Gilbert said that police and ambulance were called and that the victim was taken to hospital with fractures to his eye socket and nose. He was said to have needed an operation for the injuries he sustained but has since mostly recovered from the assault.

The court heard that Hayward had 28 previous convictions for 37 offences including multiple assaults dating back to 2009.

Mr Gilbert said the offence was aggravated by Hayward's previous convictions as well as the fact that the commission of the offence took place whilst the defendant was under the influence of alcohol.

Mitigating, David Freeland, said: "The reason Mr Hayward went into the caravan was because he was concerned about the welfare of the two women he was with."

"No weapon was used and it was an impulsive and spontaneous act.

"He says he is extremely sorry for his actions and for the injuries and distress caused to [the victim]."

Mr Freeland said that prior to his prison sentence Hayward moved out of Bridport, which was said to be his 'old stomping ground', and moved to a shared house in Bournemouth.

He added that Hayward had become drug and alcohol free and was making positive steps to transform his life.

Judge Robert Pawson told Hayward that he had caused some 'really serious harm' to the victim and had an 'appalling record'.

He noted that the offence took place nearly four years ago and said that the reason for the delays were 'largely down to Covid'.

He told Hayward: "Your position is that you were concerned for the safety of the two women you were with

"There were 10 punches, that seems to me to go beyond what is considered a shortlived attack.

"This attack took place in the early hours of the morning. You entered, effectively as a trespasser, into the victim's own home when he was asleep in bed. The victim was obviously vulnerable due to the circumstances."

Judge Pawson sentenced Hayward to 21 months imprisonment.