AN 'evil man' punched, strangled and wielded a knife while threatening to kill the terrified partner who had rejected him during a bloody and jealous rage.

Steven Scarratt, who would not take no for an answer, was jailed for 41 months at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday for the attack on the partner who had ended their relationship.

The jealous 50-year-old of Sandy Lane, Stourport, repeatedly breached a protective order granted in the family court and threatened to set the woman's former partner - the father of her children - 'on fire' after the defendant let himself into her home uninvited.

He even got members of his own family to send her gifts and flowers to take him back and make her feel guilty about dumping him which the judge who put him behind bars described as 'classic controlling behaviour'. "In the end you wore her down," the judge told him.

Scarratt, a father-of-five, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, threatening her with a bladed article (a Stanley Knife) and breach of a non-molestation order on what would have been the first day of his trial.

He had already admitted driving while disqualified and three further breaches of that restraining order between June 5 and 7 last year - after the terrifying attack which forced her to flee and seek sanctuary in a supermarket.

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said the couple had been in a relationship for about a year which had been 'punctuated by outbursts of violence' which caused the complainant to end the relationship.

This led to her successful application for a non-molestation order in the family court, granted on April 9 last year.

However, the defendant continued to contact his former partner and 'his family continued to send flowers and gifts' and she was 'made to feel guilty about how the relationship had broken down'.

As a result she 'acquiesced to a degree' and even spent some time with him at his caravan between April 23 and 27 last year. However, she realised she had made a mistake and did not want to be with him and did not respond to his later texts.

On April 29 last year she was on the telephone to a former partner when the defendant let himself into the house and came into the lounge. Her adult children were in the house at the time.

Ms Allen said the complainant made it clear she did not want him there. During the abuse he made threats to set her former partner on fire. The prosecution did not accept the basis of plea that Scarratt did not use racist language towards the victim's former partner. However, as a compromise the Crown did not litigate the matter.

The defendant, who was banned from driving, drove the victim to a quiet country lane (Dirty Lane) in Honeybourne in April 29 last year. Scarratt started 'calm enough' at first, the court heard.

But Ms Allen said: "Unfortunately the defendant's jealousy and anger and temper got the better of him and he became increasingly irate."

The victim described how she 'unable to placate him' and 'started to become fearful' before he punched her in the face, causing her nose to bleed. "Not satisfied with a single blow, he repeatedly punched her to the head while sitting in the car, causing her head to hit the glass. He put his hands around her neck and strangled her," the prosecutor said.

Because of the way the defendant had parked the woman could not get out of the car but Scarratt did, bringing out a Stanley knife from the boot.

"He threatened to slash the throat of her son and herself" said Ms Allen.

She either passed out or fell asleep in the car until the next morning and later tried to alert an elderly couple about what had happened.

Ms Allen said: "She spoke to the elderly couple and told them she was petrified and scared he was going to kill her."

Eventually she raised the alarm after the defendant drove her to the Co-op in Honeybourne where staff took her to a place of safety at the back of the store.

The woman suffered a black eye and scratches to her face, shown to the judge in photographs before he sentenced the defendant. Scarratt also made contact with her on June 5, 6 and 7 last year while on bail for the attack, further breaches of the protective order.

Scarratt, a former mechanic, had 15 convictions for 67 offences, mainly driving while disqualified and matters of dishonesty, including theft and burglary. In a victim personal statement she said: "He makes me feel worthless. He makes me into someone I barely recognise."

She added: "I'm very scared and I don't know what to do."

Judge James Burbidge QC sentenced Scarratt to 41 months in prison and banned him from driving for four years and eight and a half months. The defendant had already been in custody for 11 months which will count towards the sentence. Time spent on a 23 hour qualifying curfew at his caravan will also count (13 days towards his total sentence).

Scarratt can expect to serve half this time in custody and half on licence in the community.

A 10-year restraining order was also made, preventing Scarratt having contact with the complainant or her children.

After the hearing the complainant said Scarratt had become obsessed with her. She said: "I'm relieved. I've been so worried. He's evil. I've never known anything like it in my life."