A 25-YEAR-OLD man serving six and a half years imprisonment for causing a woman grievous bodily harm threatened to smash up his former partner's home while on the run, a court heard.

Adrian Feather absconded from HMP Kirkham, a Category D open prison near Preston, on June 12 and was at large for three months, Bradford Crown Court heard.

The day after he stepped over the fence to freedom, he rang his former girlfriend and threatened to take their child away and damage her home when she refused to take the infant to see him.

Feather was jailed for 78 months in August, 2011, for viciously attacking a woman in Keighley town centre.

The sentencing judge said he behaved like a wild animal when he punched, kicked and stamped on bus driver, Verona Benson, and hit her partner,Tracey Williams.

Feather pleaded guilty to wounding Miss Benson with intent to do her grievous bodily harm and common assault on Miss Williams.

Today, prosecutor Paul Nicholson said Feather had admitted escaping from HMP Kirkham and threatening to cause criminal damage.

Mr Nicholson said Feather's former partner "sensibly" refused to meet up with him when he was on the run.

Feather shouted and swore at her on the phone, threatened to take their child and smash up her home.

She was so worried she temporarily moved away, the court heard.

Feather was arrested after three months on the run and was now in Leeds Prison.

His solicitor advocate, Nigel Jamieson, said he was nearing the end of his lengthy jail term and was "the author of his own misfortunes".

Because several other inmates had recently absconded from HMP Kirkham, day release and home visits were suspended.

Feather feared he was about to be sent back to a closed prison, although he himself had done nothing wrong.

He was also distressed by a series of family bereavements, including having to attend his mother's funeral in handcuffs.

Mr Jamieson said Feather did not contact his former partner again while on the run and had no intention of carrying out the threats.

"They were words uttered in frustration," Mr Jamieson said.

Judge Colin Burn jailed Feather for eight months, to run consecutively to his existing sentence.

He will also have to serve an additional three months to make up the time he was on the run.