A BLAKEDOWN man who savagely stabbed his former girlfriend with a kitchen knife before trying to throttle the friend who had given her refuge in his Stourbridge home has been put behind bars for 33 months.

Judge Robin Onions told Simon Davies, 34, he had a string of convictions for assaults on women who had been in his life and added: "You must learn your lesson or the future is going to be extremely bleak."

He told Davies he had to go back to prison because the use of a knife to inflict injury was a serious offence and he was a man with a "proven record for violence".

Davies had only been out of prison for a matter of days before attacking Tonia Watson, who suffered a fractured eye socket, a stab wound to her leg and a cut to her hand.

Michael Darby was also assaulted and he was left with bad bruising to his face and neck, with the couple being forced to use a number of ornaments, including a candlestick, to beat off Davies as they were "fighting for their lives".

The Judge told Davies that when he was sober he behaved sensibly but, when drunk, he was "a different person altogether" - a man who was prone to violence.

"The level of violence is increasing and the use of a weapon is becoming more prevalent," said the judge.

"You assault people you claim to like and have affection for."

Davies, of Sculthorpe Road, Blakedown, admitted wounding Miss Watson and assaulting Mr Darby, causing him actual bodily harm.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told he had been in a relationship with Miss Watson but it broke down because of his continual misuse of drugs and alcohol.

The couple though remained friends and Davies would go to her Stourbridge home and be allowed to stay over but, on his last visit, he began talking about death and dying and, in fear for her safety, she went to Mr Darby's house.

But Davies then made a string of threatening phone calls to the couple before barging his way into the house, where he brutally attacked Miss Watson and assaulted Mr Darby.

Miss Laura Hobson, defending, said Davies had started using cocaine and heroin again after he came out of prison and, at the time of the offences, he was in a "terrible state".

She said Davies was now showing insight into his problems, he was full of remorse for his actions and he was determined to move away from drug use and violence.