A man who admitted punching his girlfriend in the face and breaking her arm last week asked a magistrate for leniency.

Swain Lightbourne, of Uplands Lane, Warwick, faced a charge of attempting grievous bodily harm to his girlfriend, Sharon Davis, in January this year.

And the court heard it was not the first time Lightbourne had beaten Davis.

Ms Davis' mother -- who did not give her name -- told Magistrate Arthur Hodgson her daughter had been repeatedly hospitalised because of Lightbourne's assaults in the past.

"She needs help or she's going to be the next statistic buried six feet down,'' she said.

Prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette told the court that on the evening of January 21, Ms Davis held a birthday party at a private house.

At around 7 p.m. she left the house with her boyfriend of two years, Lightbourne, to go to a grocery store.

While in the store's car park Ms Davis and the 33-year-old-man had a heated argument.

Lightbourne first punched Ms Davis in the face and knocked her to the ground.

He then kicked her repeatedly about her body while she was on the ground.

Ms Davis was forced to wrap her arms around her head in an effort to protect herself until Lightbourne was restrained by several people.

Sgt. Mouchette said Ms Davis was later taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where was treated for a broken left fore arm, bruising over her body, a bleeding face and a possible broken nose.

Swain initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but changed his plea soon after the complainant took the stand.

"I was wondering if I could get some leniency,'' he said. "I lost my cool and I know that it isn't right.

"I really learned a valuable lesson. I apologise to Ms Davis and her family.'' "I don't feel like going to prison right now because I miss out on a lot,'' he added.

Although Ms Davis was not on the witness stand, Mr. Hodgson invited her to speak about the defendant and his possible punishment.

She admitted the January 21 incident was not the first time her boyfriend had hit her, but said she did nothing the first time it happened.

Mr. Hodgson said he realised the defendant and complainant were in a "love relationship'', but said he could not see it as such.

"I can understand feeling sorry for Mr. Lightbourne, and I can understand getting angry,'' he said.

"What I can't understand is allowing the repeat occurrences.

"For the protection of people like Ms Davis, he needs to be punished.'' But Mr. Hodgson went on to say he believed Lightbourne's imprisonment could be used for his own benefit.

And he asked Lightbourne to "give an undertaking to the court'' to complete the anger management programme at the Westgate Correctional Facility, even it meant continuing after his release date.

Mr. Hodgson sentenced Lightbourne to nine months imprisonment for the attack.

He also sentenced Lightbourne to serve a three month concurrent sentence for the wilful destruction of a store counter top in February this year.