A MAN who spat in the face of a woman in Aldi has been jailed for a total of 44 weeks after pleading guilty to a string of offences.

Jonathon James Bowyer, 57, also known as Jonathon Bowden, of Roman Road, Taunton, admitted assault by spitting in the face of his frightened victim" in the supermarket in Bathpool.

He was sent to prison for four weeks at Taunton Magistrates' Courts to run concurrently with other jail terms for the offence on January 4 this year.

He was further jailed for 14 weeks assault by beating another woman in Taunton on September 10 last year.

Bowyer received no separate penalty for stealing a bag of oranges at Aldi on the same day.

He was also handed a two week (concurrent) sentence for damaging a car wiper motor in Taunton on July 18 last year.

Bowyer's offences were committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence imposed for twice breaching a criminal behaviour order, for which he was given four weeks' jail (consecutive) and four weeks (concurrent); and for two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, which attracted a two-week prison sentence (concurrent) on each count.

For using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to a man in Taunton that was racially aggravated on September 10, he was sent down for 12 weeks (consecutive)

He was handed two weeks (concurrent) for another breach of a criminal behaviour order in the county town on November 26.

And using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to a man in Taunton on October 2 saw him receive a six week (concurrent) sentence.

Magistrates also slapped an eight-week sentence (concurrent) on Bowyer for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to a woman in the town on March 8. In addition he was handed a two-year restraining order and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

Further breaching a suspended sentence order imposed for assault by beating, he was given 14 weeks behind bars (consecutive); and for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour that was racially aggravated, he was imprisoned for six weeks (concurrent).