and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, was yesterday sent to prison for four months.

Henry McLean Trott, of Cable Hill, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to unlawfully assaulting Vera-Lynn Albertha DeShields and using offensive behaviour on Ord Road on May 24.

Trott met DeShields at a nightclub on Court Street on May 23 when she agreed to give him a ride home, Insp. Peter Duffy, prosecuting, said.

But DeShields later left the club without Trott who was drunk.

Trott went to her home in Paget just after midnight. Insp. Duffy said DeShields did not want Trott to make a scene and therefore agreed to take him home.

Once in the car, Trott asked DeShields why she left the club without him, punched her in the face and began pulling the steering wheel from side to side, Insp. Duffy said.

DeShields braked to avoid hitting a wall, he said. But Trott slapped her again and pulled her by the hair toward him.

"She pushed down on what she thought was the brakes,'' Insp. Duffy said.

"But it was the gas pedal.'' DeShields lost control of the car and slammed into a wall near Cherry Hill Park. She was not hurt, but the car was extensively damaged.

Insp. Duffy said Police saw Trott, who was "still drunk and aggressive,'' pushing DeShields against a wall when they arrived on the scene.

Insp. Duffy told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis, Trott, who is a self-employed electrician, had a history of violence.

"This was a terribly ugly scene and as a result there was a car damaged,'' Mr. Francis said. "I see nothing to justify this kind of behaviour. You have previous convictions for assaults and violence.'' Mr. Francis sentenced Trott to four months on each count, to run concurrently.