Jack Tweed jailed for 12 weeks

Jack Tweed has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison after being convicted of assaulting a taxi driver.

The 21-year-old, who married the late reality star Jade Goody in February, was found guilty of attacking Stephen Wilkins in Epping, Essex, last year.

During the sentencing this morning, Harlow Magistrates' Court chairwoman Margaret Webb said: "'We have borne in mind the recent change in your personal circumstances and have reflected this in the length of the sentence, which would otherwise have been 18 weeks."

Tweed will serve half the sentence before being released on licence and has been ordered to pay £200 compensation to Mr Wilkins and costs of £466.

In mitigation, his lawyer had claimed that Tweed had matured since the assault, saying: "Mr Tweed is 21. He was 20 at the time of this offence that took place 11 months ago. There has been no re-offending since that date.

"To say that he is a changed man since May 2008 is perhaps an understatement. He has endured with dignity and maturity very difficult personal circumstances that have been well documented."

The court is also reported to have heard character statements from his old school, his father, his uncle and a doctor and a nurse who helped to treat Goody.

Tweed, from Buckhurst Hill, Essex, was present for the sentencing. He had previously denied the offence, claiming that he had been too drunk to remember the evening but would never attack a taxi driver.