A JURY has found a former boxer from New Inn guilty of three counts of assaulting his then girlfriend, and another of false imprisonment.

But Christopher Cooksey, of Gloster's Parade, was cleared of two other counts of assault and another of forcing her to take cocaine.

The 32-year-old had been standing trial at Cardiff Crown Court after denying the seven charges, all alleged to have taken place in December last year.

The jury of six men and six women had previously heard the couple had met at the gym and had initially enjoyed a happy relationship, but it deteriorated to the point that the woman allegedly attempted to kill herself by taking an overdose of paracetamol three days after Christmas last year.

The woman's sister said, when she saw her on Christmas Day, she was "flat".

But Harry Baker, defending, said there was little evidence to support the woman's allegations - including that Cooksey had attacked her and forced her to stay home from work so others would not see her injuries, made her take cocaine and taken her phone.

Branding the victim "an immature woman, who is like a child and will make up a lie without thinking", and said her alleged suicide attempt was "attention-seeking".

"Mr Cooksey is a well-built man and you certainly wouldn't want to be hit by him," he said. "He could deliver a fairly hefty blow.

"If he hit that young woman you would think she would still have those marks after Christmas

"That lack of injury shows you may not have the full picture."

He added: "You must be sure of any case before you convict.

"Supporting evidence would help you be sure before you convict. Without that evidence it is hard for you to be sure.

"You don't have the full picture. There is a massive, elephant-shaped gap in this evidence."

But, after a deliberation lasting around two-and-a-half hours the jury found Cooksey guilty of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another of assault by beating, as well the charge of false imprisonment.

But they cleared him of the third charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, alleged to have taken place at a Christmas party, and the second of assault by beating, in which he had allegedly attempted to choke the woman. He was also cleared of administering a poison or noxious substance with intent, in which the victim said he had forced her to take cocaine.

Ordering a pre-sentence report to be put together, judge Tom Crowther remanded Cooksey in custody, saying: "I'm very concerned that Mr Cooksey's behaviour shows he is very dangerous towards anyone who may be unfortunate enough to be his partner."

He will return to court for sentencing on Wednesday, October 31 - his birthday.