Man jailed after 'brazen' street assault on woman

Nehemiah Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman, police said

A man has been jailed for 12 months for a street assault that left a woman in "excruciating" pain with two fractured ribs.

Nehemiah Brown, of Devizes Road, Holbrook, Wiltshire, admitted punching and kicking the woman in the face following a loud verbal argument in the street, police said. The incident on 25 July was witnessed by an off-duty officer.

The 36-year-old also tried to encourage his three large dogs to attack officers while they arrested him.

As well as the prison sentence, Brown was given a five-year restraining order at Salisbury Crown Court on 22 November.

'Repeatedly punched'

In a statement read to the court, Brown's victim said: "After the assault, I was confused at what had just happened and just wanted to seek refuge in order to get away from him."

She added she initially had thought she only sustained facial injuries in the attack, but was left unable to sleep due to "excruciating" back pain caused by two fractured ribs.

She said this was from when her attacker "kicked me in the back as I tried to escape from him after he had grabbed me by the hair and repeatedly punched me to the face".

PC Lo Bianco, of Wiltshire Police, said: "This was a brazen and serious assault that took place in public in broad daylight.

"I'm glad we could get a great result for the victim and ensuring she can rebuild her life."