A MAN who brandished a 10-inch kitchen knife at his ex-partner and threatened to kill her has been jailed for 44 months.

Shopfitter Colin Radford, 37, of Tuckers Lane, Poole, subjected Gail Birkin to an ordeal lasting more than two hours.

Prosecutor Nigel Mitchell said the incident occurred some time after the victim had ended her relationship with Radford.

The offences were committed on January 19, 2000 but Radford failed to appear at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was tracked down and finally arrested at his home earlier this year.

He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, making threats to kill and criminal damage.

Mr Mitchell said Radford and the victim had a volatile relationship before Ms Birkin moved to a new home.

Radford called at her new home at around 9pm and said he had come to collect his belongings.

Once inside the house, Radford informed Ms Birkin that he had been watching her, describing a DVD she had been watching and food she had eaten.

Mr Mitchell said: "She told him that the relationship was over and he started to get aggressive.

"He began shouting and hitting the sides of his head - a sign that violence was likely to follow, which it did."

Radford punched the wall round the fireplace, then threatened to kill himself and went to the kitchen to fetch a carving knife with a 10-inch blade.

"He began to draw and slash it across his wrists and his own stomach and she shouted at him to stop," added Mr Mitchell.

Ms Birkin then tried to dial 999 but the defendant grabbed the phone and barred her way as she tried to leave.

Ms Birkin became terrified as Radford began following her around the house with the knife.

When he put the knife down she managed to grab it and throw it out of the kitchen window which made him "even more angry" said Mr Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell said: "He got out another large knife then started shouting 'If I can't have you no-one else can. You'll be dead before the night's out'.

"He also threatened to set fire to the house."

Radford later calmed down and left the house, said Mr Mitchell.

Ms Birkin said that following the attack she left Bournemouth to get away from the defendant and was unable to sleep in the dark.

Defending, Tim Bradbury said the offences occurred in the "context of the breakdown of the relationship".

He said: "Mr Radford was suffering from great emotional turmoil."

Mr Bradbury added: "He lost his temper but it was out of character."

First published: May 6