A man who assaulted a woman who was waiting for a taxi has been jailed for 26 weeks.

Passing sentence at Llandudno magistrates’ court District Judge told Jamie Mark Scott: “It was an unpleasant and unprovoked attack upon a victim in a sensitive area. It was gratuitous violence and repeated use of force.”

He said the incident had had a significant impact on the victim, Caroline Simpson, who was now scared of going out alone, so an immediate custodial sentence was easily justified.

Scott, aged 30, of Ffordd Idwal, Prestatyn, had pleaded not guilty to common assault but was convicted after trial.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of driving whilst disqualified and two of having no insurance. He was jailed for 16 weeks for the assault and 10 weeks consecutive for the motoring offences, and banned from driving for 27 months.

Prosecutor Sheyanne Lee said that Scott, who was disqualified from driving last year, was stopped while driving a van in Towyn on March 6 and then in a car in Rhyl three days later.

The assault on Ms Simpson occurred in Aater Street, Rhyl, in the early hours of August 22 last year while she and a friend were waiting for a taxi. As a row broke out without any real cause Ms Simpson was pushed against a concrete post, grabbed by the arm, had her hair pulled and was punched and head-butted.

Also involved in the attack with Scott was Lauren Marie Allen, 24, who was given a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay Ms Simpson £300 in compensation, plus court costs of £620 and a £115 surcharge.

The court heard that Allen, who had no previous convictions and whose address was not disclosed , had since lost her job as a carer for people with dementia.