Jail time for 55-year-old who battered Wigan woman

William McDowell, of Worsley Green, Pemberton, had previously appeared before a Bolton Crown Court judge to plead not guilty to a charge of wounding, which is alleged to have happened on September 7 last year.

He had been remanded into custody for a trial set to begin this month but before it could start, he offered to plead guilty to a lesser charge of causing his victim actual bodily harm which was accepted by the prosecution.

He was sentenced to 18 weeks behind bars and made the subject of a 10-year restraining order prohibiting any contact with his victim.