A MAN terrorised his now ex-partner, putting her through a prolonged violent ordeal after barricading her into a bedroom, a court heard.

David Blackburn was jailed for four years for what his own barrister described as, “a manic episode”, after accusing the woman of being unfaithful.

Durham Crown Court heard he repeatedly punched her on her legs and in the area of her kidneys, causing heavy bruising, put his hands round her neck in a throttling motion, and threatened to crush her skull with a hammer and cut her neck with a screwdriver.

It was only when he went to the bathroom claiming that he was going to take an overdose that his terrified partner was able to grab the keys and flee the house, running to the sanctuary of her own parents’ home nearby.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said police were called, but when officers arrived at the house where the protracted incident had taken place, on August 24 last year, Blackburn had disappeared.

He was not arrested until November and has been in custody since December.

The court heard that when the medical evidence was put to him, 32-year-old Blackburn, of Tees Crescent, Stanley, admitted two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, but it was only on the day of a scheduled trial that he also admitted false imprisonment.

Mr Towers said the victim described beginning the relationship with Blackburn, in February last year, as the worst thing she had ever done.

She said she did not believe he was capable of such violence and when he did assault her, it was the first time in her life she had been hit.

Blackburn’s antecedent history includes three previous acts of violence involving women, two of whom were also former partners.

Lewis Kerr, mitigating, who described it is a, “manic episode”, said Blackburn has been a model prisoner while on remand and accepts he needs to address mental health issues on his release.

Judge Christopher Prince said Blackburn also needs to address his use of drugs.

Describing it as, “an ugly, extremely threatening and, no doubt, terrifying incident”, Judge Prince made Blackburn subject of a restraining order, not to contact or approach his victim, “until further order”.