A man with a “propensity for violence” who beat a woman in Bordon and sent her a string of offensive messages has narrowly escaped a jail sentence.

Billy Williams, 22, of Bolton Crescent in Basingstoke, pleaded guilty to beating the woman on August 7, 2022, in Bordon.

He also admitted sending two messages that were “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character” on April 19, 2022, and May 5, 2022.

At his sentencing hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on February 8, magistrates said Williams had exhibited “a propensity for violence” and added the case was “on the cusp of the custody threshold”.

However, magistrates gave Williams “credit” for his guilty plea and deemed a community order was “a just and appropriate penalty”.

Williams was ordered to undertake 100 hours unpaid work and slapped with a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim until February  7, 2025.

He was also ordered to undergo a five-day “rehabilitation activity” as well as a 32-day ‘Building Better Relationships’ programme.

He will also have to pay £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £114 surcharge to fund victim services.