A one-armed man previously jailed for killing a friend in a car accident was back behind bars today for beating his partner over the head - with his prosthetic limb.

Marc Wood left Louise Hawes "black and blue" and needing four staples in a head wound after battering her in an alcohol-fuelled assault at the couple's home in Chalfont St Giles, a court heard.

Wood had been jailed for four years in 2011 after crashing his car while being pursued by police in High Wycombe, killing friend Jack Dutton and leaving him needing to have his right arm amputated below the elbow.

The 25-year-old used his false arm and part of a Hoover to attack Miss Hawes as she slept in the early hours June 8, near to the anniversary of the crash, in retaliation for her accidentally leaving him locked out of the house.

He was jailed for 18 months at Amersham Crown Court after previously admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and causing criminal damage, having removed the bottom two wooden panels of the door in order to get inside the house and hit Miss Hawes.

The court heard that Wood - who has five previous convictions, including for assaulting a policeman and causing actual bodily harm - was still out on licence after being released from prison from causing death by dangerous driving when he committed the assault.

Neil King, prosecuting, said Wood had drunk nine pints and half a bottle of red wine prior to committing the assault.

He told the court Miss Hawes, who had also been drinking, had gone to sleep and had accidentally locked Wood out of the house.

Mr King said: "He lost his temper and, in a drunken state, used his prosthetic arm and a Hoover to hit her four times whilst on the bed.

"He shouted towards Miss Hawes 'tell them that I didn't do anything' before he was taken away. The Crown says that’s a feature that aggravates this offence.

"There is also the location of the offence - in her own home - she's asleep, it was committed on licence and, to an extent, steps were taken to prevent the victim reporting the incident."

Helen Warren, defending, said:"That person was a friend of his and, quite aside from having served his term of imprisonment, he has to suffer from his own personal grief and mourning towards that friend.

"The end of May, beginning of June is a very difficult time of year - not only was there the accident but also the funeral.

“His emotions were heightened. He's always suffered from feelings of depression and anxiety; that was made very much worse after that incident."

Miss Warren added Miss Hawes wanted to continue the relationship with Wood despite the assault on her.

Jailing Wood for 18 months, Judge John Cole said: "You proceeded to beat her with a prosthetic limb that you had as a result of a car accident that resulted in a death by dangerous driving conviction.

"She was black and blue with bruises.

"This was a disgraceful attack on someone prone and vulnerable, and supposedly somebody you loved.”

Wood was jailed for 18 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and given a concurrent four month sentence for criminal damage. He was also ordered to pay £180 in costs.