A MAN who threatened to smash a TV set over the head of his former lover and then beat her up, breaking her nose and fracturing her arm, didn't get a day too long behind bars, top judges ruled today.

Three judges, sitting at London's Court of Appeal, refused to brand 45-year-old John Gleaves's sentence "manifestly excessive".

They told Gleaves, of Briarfield Avenue, Atherton, that the judiciary had a duty to protect women from domestic violence.

Gleaves had admitted wounding with intent at Manchester Crown Court last April and received a 30-month jail term.

Sitting at London's Court of Appeal Mr Justice Sachs, who heard the case with Lord Justice Longmore and Mr Justice Davies, said Gleaves had carried out a "vicious and thoroughly unprovoked" assault on the woman.

He told the court the incident happened when Gleaves was confronted with the fact his relationship with the woman was over.

She threatened to call the police after he assaulted her, but he threw her mobile phone against a wall and then said he would hit her over the head with the TV set.

Gleaves then punched her again on the stairs as she tried to flee her flat, breaking her nose. But when he noticed how much she was bleeding, he said he would take her to a hospital.

She refused his offer, so he grabbed her by the hair and then twisted her left arm, which she had already told him was broken, causing "excruciating" pain.

Mr Justice Sachs said the woman managed to run to a nearby shop, but her ordeal wasn't over because Gleaves followed her to hospital and demanded to be allowed to see her.

When medics refused, Gleaves began abusing them but was arrested shortly afterwards.

The judge said although Gleaves had no previous convictions for violence, he told a probation officer he had beaten up previous lovers.