A 30-YEAR-OLD man who pressed a kitchen knife to his ex-partner's stomach while threatening to murder her has been jailed for a total of three and a half years.

Martin Shaw, who has a history of domestic violence, became angry when he discovered a series of messages on Hannah Wharton's phone, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

He pushed her downstairs, threw the phone at her head, punched her in the face and grabbed her by the throat with both hands.

Shaw, of Beacon Place, Buttershaw, Bradford, then took a knife from the kitchen, pressed the tip into her stomach and said: "I'm going to murder you."

Miss Wharton, 22, told the police Shaw had "an evil look on his face" and she was very frightened.

Prosecutor Ken Green said Shaw then drove off in Miss Wharton's car at 3am.

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She called the police and officers found she had suffered lumps and swellings to her face.

Almost three hours later, Shaw deliberately rammed an HGV driver's car as he drove to work on West Royd Road, Bradford.

He reversed twice into Alan Hudson's Mitsubishi vehicle in Miss Wharton's Vauxhall Zafira, doing £325 damage.

He was later to say he thought Mr Hudson was driving too slowly.

Shaw pleaded guilty to common assault, threats to kill and aggravated vehicle taking on July 16 last year.

The court heard he was sentenced for battery in 2005 after he accused his girlfriend of being unfaithful, grabbed her by the hair and pushed her over. She banged her head on a washing machine door and he then kicked her repeatedly.

In 2006, Shaw was convicted of causing a man actual bodily harm when he struck him with copper piping after he found him in bed with a woman he was in a relationship with.

Later that year, he was jailed for wounding a partner by pushing her over so that she banged her head and needed hospital treatment.

Shaw's barrister, Giles Bridge, said he had resolved never again to serve time in prison after discovering his cell mate dead while he was on remand for these offences. He found the body behind a curtain after the man committed suicide. Shaw needed counselling and anti-depressants after making the shock discovery.

Mr Bridge said Shaw's relationship with Miss Wharton was volatile and she had been contacting him while he was in prison. They hoped to see one another when he was released.

Recorder Paul Reid told Shaw: "You clearly have problems with your temper and reconciling yourself to the breakdown of relationships."

But he added: "The appalling experience you had in prison must have had some effect on you."