A 35-YEAR-old Carlisle man has been given a suspended jail term after he pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault on a woman.

Philip Burns, of Thompson Street, Carlisle, was given a four month sentence by magistrates sitting at the city's Rickergate court.

But after hearing about the offence, they agreed to suspend the jail sentence for two years.

Burns assaulted the woman on July 19, the court heard.

As they passed sentence, the magistrates said they regarded the assault as serious because it was an example of domestic violence; it was committed while Burns was under the influence of alcohol and it had involved repeated kicking of his victim while she was on the floor.

The defendant was also on a community order at the time, the court was told.

They suspended the jail term because Burns was willing to rehabilitate and to engage with officials from the Probation Service.

The sentence includes 60 hours of unpaid work and he must complete a Building Better Relationships Programme. Burns must pay £85 costs, and a £128 victim surcharge. There was no compensation.