A CIRENCESTER man who bombarded his 16-year-old Asian girlfriend with racist text messages, calling her a "Paki beached whale," has been jailed.

Craig Francis, 19, of Berry Hill Crescent, Stratton, Cirencester, had originally escaped custody for the offences and was given the chance to go on a course to combat domestic abuse.

But last week he was back before Gloucester Crown Court to be sentenced after breaching his order by committing a further similar offence against the girl.

The court heard that despite his earlier abuse of her she had got back together with him in about February or March this year.

Although there was a restraining order in force to stop him seeing her neither he nor she did anything about having that rescinded, said defence barrister Paul Grumbar.

He said that last Sunday things came to a head between the pair and Francis was asked to leave the house.

"He was in his car and there was an argument about a dog they had purchased jointly," said Mr Grumbar.

"A shouting match started. Neighbours called the police and the defendant was arrested for being in breach of his restraining order.

"He was taken before the magistrates court on Monday and sentenced to five months imprisonment for this offence plus three months from a previous suspended sentence which he had breached.

"He is therefore now serving 8 months."

Mr Grumbar asked the crown court not to add greatly to that sentence for Francis' original offences against the girl.

But Recorder Michael Parroy QC sentenced Francis to a further six months consecutive and told him "It is quite apparent from everything I have read that you are quite incapable of behaving like a proper sensible civilised human being when it comes to relationships.

"When this relationship came to an end you behaved in a wholly unacceptable way. You harass and insult people and you do not seem to be able to control your temper.

"This in my view was a serious incident. It took place at a time when you were subject to a suspended sentence and had a restraining order in place vis a vis this lady.

"You insulted her in directly racial terms. Why should anyone have to put up with that sort of behaviour from you?"