Bodycam evidence from police helped to jail a man who left his partner with serious injuries during a nightime attack.

Initially the attacker pleaded not guilty to the offence after his partner declined to attend court to give evidence.

But when a judge allowed bodycam evidence collected by police taken shortly after the attack to be considered, the man changed his plea to guilty.

A court heard that William Wenman, 38, attacked his partner in the middle of the night and snapped her mobile phone.

-Wenman, 38, punched and slapped the victim multiple times to the face in the early hours of January 16. The attack caused significant swelling and bruising to the victim’s face, to the extent that she could not open her right eye.

With the victim not wishing to attend court, Wenman initially pleaded not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

On Friday (May 18) at Cambridge Crown Court the judge permitted the use of other evidence, such as bodycam footage from officers.

Wenman, of Fenland Way, Chatteris, changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to a year and ten months in prison.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: “We hope this sentence will allow the victim to move on with the rest of her life.

“This court result shows that if a victim, for whatever reason, does not want to engage with the court process then we can still pursue justice on their behalf.

“Protecting vulnerable people, including survivors of domestic abuse, is a priority for the constabulary and we will do all we can to bring offenders before the courts.”