A Loughrea man who violently sexually assaulted a nurse in a laneway in Galway city causing her severe head injuries has received a ten year prison sentence.

25 year old Brian Maher of Clostoken, Loughrea had pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault and assault causing harm to the woman, in Bohermore on October 16, 2010.

The sentence was handed down at the Central Criminal Court today.

Justice McCarthy backdated a sentence of ten years imprisonment to October 17, 2010 as Maher has been in custody since that date.

He suspended the last three years on the condition that Maher keep the peace and not communicate or approach the victim for three years.