A man jailed for 11 years for knifing his girlfriend and holding her children hostage in Bradford has been locked up for beating his new wife.

A judge branded violent and controlling James Steele a serious risk to the public and warned him he faced becoming a life prisoner.

Steele, 37, formerly of Shipley, pleaded guilty to causing his wife Elizabeth actual bodily harm and to assaulting a police officer.

He was given a four-year extended prison sentence at Leeds Crown Court yesterday. He was in custody having been recalled to prison.

In December 1998, Steele stabbed his girlfriend Carolyn Westmoreland six times in a jealous rage and held her two young children hostage in a five-hour siege at her home in Lower Grange, Bradford.

He met Miss Westmoreland through a lonely hearts column and became engaged to her the day he attacked her.

Leeds Crown Court was told in December 1999 that he dangled her two-year-old daughter from an upstairs window by her leg and threatened to kill both children.

Steele, then of Shipley, was jailed for 11 years for wounding with intent, false imprisonment and cruelty to a child.

Miss Westmoreland met Steele through a personal advert in a newspaper.

Just hours after they bought the engagement ring he broke into her home.

He stabbed her with a carving knife, causing a serious wound to her stomach and lung. She fled the house to raise the alarm and when the police arrived, Steele held a pair of scissors to the throat of one of the children.

He held her out of the upstairs window by one leg while she was screaming and distressed.

Steele was arrested when police forced their way into the house.

Yesterday, Leeds Crown Court heard that Steele's jail term was cut to ten years on appeal.

Prosecutor Richard Clews said Steele attacked his wife at their home in Pennington Street, Woodhouse, Leeds, on Valentine's Day this year.

The couple met in 2005 and married in August the same year.

Mr Clews said the marriage was characterised by "bouts of violence and controlling behaviour".

Steele would pin his wife to the floor and she was not allowed to go to the toilet without his permission.

On February 14, he knocked Mrs Steele to the floor, punched her and hit her across the head with a vacuum cleaner.

Police could hear her screams as they broke down the door.

"She was slumped in the hall, hysterical and screaming for help," Mr Clews said.

She suffered black eyes and multiple cuts and bruising.

After Steele was arrested he kicked and scratched a police officer, drawing blood.

The court heard Steele had a conviction for causing actual bodily harm in 1992.

Robin Mairs said in mitigation that Steele had emotional and mental problems and had been affected by a cocktail of alcohol and medication.

Judge Alistair McCallum told Steele he gave his wife "a thorough beating" and it was only good fortune her injuries were not more serious.

"I have no doubt that you pose a significant risk to members of the public," the judge said.

He sentenced Steele to two years in jail and extended the sentence by two years to be served under supervision on licence.

He warned him he could end up with a life sentence if he is violent in the future.