A RAGING drunk who terrorised his former girlfriend and her new lover in their bed at 2.30am, was jailed for four years yesterday.

Neil Ferguson, 28, downed 16 cans of strong lager before he went to Sharon Sykes' home, kicking in a front door panel and crawling inside, taking a fence post with him.

Miss Sykes, 39, and boyfriend Robert Luck, 42, hurriedly dressed but Ferguson punched Mr Luck in the face telling him he would kill him unless he stayed away.

Mr Luck pushed him into the bedroom and raced downstairs, but was chased outside by Ferguson, who lashed out with two knives from their kitchen.

A neighbour saw shirtless Ferguson then turn his attention on Miss Sykes, who called police on her mobile, said Shaun Dryden, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court.

Ferguson told her: "I am going to kill you. If I can't have you, no one can."

Three of her fingers were cut as she pulled a knife from her throat.

Ferguson threw the knives on the ground as police arrived on the scene. Luck was treated in hospital for bites to his arms and Miss Sykes for cuts.

Ferguson, who had been jailed before for drunken violence, vowed to cut his drinking, said Tom Mitchell, defending.

Ferguson, of Burwell Road, Netherfields, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on March 29 with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, making a threat to kill and unlawful wounding. On his release from prison, he will be on extended licence for three years.