A BRIDGWATER man who assaulted a woman and left her with a severely swollen face and a broken rib has been jailed.

When police came across the victim, they described her as being in a 'dreadful state', she was 'horrified, bleeding, caked in mud, soaking wet and shivering'.

Gordon Turner, 43, of Blake Street in Bridgwater, and a female colleague had been drinking heavily in Taunton on the afternoon of July 11 this year.

Having walked past Taunton Magistrates Court, Turner suddenly turned on the woman in a nearby car park and started attacking her without provocation, Taunton Crown Court heard on Friday.

Rebecca Bradberry, prosecuting, said Turner sat across the woman's chest pressing her knees against her windpipe and strangling her.

The court heard that Turner repeatedly punched his victim in the face causing significant injuries, and he then grabbed her by the feet and dragged her towards the water at the edge of the car park.

He proceeded to stand on his victim chest, placing all his weight upon her with one foot and this caused the broken rib, the court heard.

Ms Bradberry said one witness described the victim's face as having blood running from her nose and her eyes being so swollen she looked unable to open them properly.

Defending Turner, Patrick Mason said he had a long history with drink and drugs, and had led the chaotic lifestyle associated with those addictions.

"He does have a long list of previous convictions but has not been in trouble for the past eight years," Mr Mason said.

"His father is here today to support him. He is a man who needs support if he is to get back on the straight and narrow."

Sentencing, Judge David Evans said the whole incident had the 'very unpleasant tang of a revenge beating'.

"You showed no remorse, and in fact blamed the victim in the immediate aftermath, saying 'That's what you get when you are on the game and on crack',"Judge Evans said.

Turner was sentenced to nine months in prison and a restraining order was put in place stopping Turner contacting the victim.