A jilted boyfriend who carried out a brutal attack on his former girlfriend was today beginning a four-and-a-half year jail sentence.

Phillip Moisey, 50, had already been ordered by a Court to stay away from Maria Haigh, but in November last year he turned up outside her gift shop in Moore Avenue, Wibsey, and attacked her with a weapon - probably a claw hammer - as she was leaving for the night.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Miss Haigh, who was then 34, was struck repeatedly about the head and body as Moisey ignored her pleas to stop.

''She tried to protect herself as best she could by rolling into a ball,'' said prosecutor Michael Smith.

''The defendant continued to hit her and began kicking her and she thought she was about to die.''

As passers-by came to Miss Haigh's aid Moisey kicked her in the chest once more before fleeing the scene in his Peugeot car.

Miss Haigh, who was still conscious, was helped into a nearby pizza shop before being taken to hospital where doctors discovered a series of injuries including a depressed fracture of the skull. Miss Haigh had to undergo surgery at the neuro-surgical unit in Leeds the next day.

Although she has now recovered from her physical injuries Mr Smith revealed that she still suffered headaches and experienced psychological trauma.

''She's frightened to go out and is still suffering the effects of the attack upon her,'' he said.

The court heard that Miss Haigh had started a relationship with Moisey when she was 21. They shared a house but problems started after she discovered he was having an affair and suspected he was taking drugs.

Moisey's garage business collapsed, but in 1996 Miss Haigh opened the Crown Crafts shop with her sister and although the couple continued to share the house they began leading separate lives.

In early 1999 Miss Haigh changed the locks on the doors and Moisey moved a house in Union Street, Great Horton.

In July 1999 Miss Haigh obtained a County Court injunction to stop Moisey visiting the shop, but he continued to harass her and in January last year Bradford Magistrates put him on probation for 12 months and imposed a year-long restraining order.

''That appeared to have the desired effect and Miss Haigh was then not troubled by the defendant. She established a new life and began a new relationship,'' said Mr Smith. A few weeks prior to the attack however Moisey telephoned her to tell her to get her new boyfriend out the house.

When he was quizzed about the attack by police Moisey said he could not remember anything about it and blamed that on the Prozac and alcohol he had taken.

Moisey was originally charged with the attempted murder of Miss Haigh, but earlier this month his guilty plea to causing grievous bodily harm with intent was accepted by the prosecution.

Jailing Moisey, Judge Norman Jones QC took into account the fact Moisey's actions may have been influenced to some degree by the medication and had since expressed remorse.