A VIOLENT drug addict who stabbed his lover and tried to force her to drop the charges has been jailed for five years after being branded a danger to the public.

Jason Bainbridge will also have to spend four years on licence after release and will be recalled to prison if he gets into more trouble in that time.

Judge Tony Briggs told the 39- year-old: “You subjected her to a violent and terrifying attack, and an attack of considerable seriousness.”

Teesside Crown Court heard how Bainbridge attacked Patricia Hewitt, 25, at their bedsit in Darlington on March 14 after she confessed to sleeping with another man.

He grabbed Miss Hewitt by the throat and strangled her, pushed her against a wardrobe and a window before he plunged the knife into her right forearm.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, told the court that heroin-user Bainbridge locked Miss Hewitt into their home, in Woodland Road, the following day and refused to let her leave.

She tried to attract the attention of neighbours and passersby by banging on the ceiling and throwing coins out of a window, but no one came to her aid.

The following day, Miss Hewitt talked Bainbridge into allowing her to accompany him on a trip to Middlesbrough.

When she became distressed during the journey and asked for help, Bainbridge fled and rang police, saying she would make false allegations against him.

After he was arrested and held in prison on remand, he repeatedly wrote to Miss Hewitt demanding that she alter her account of events and withdraw her complaint.

Last month, Bainbridge admitted charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and acts intended to pervert justice.

Rod Hunt, in mitigation, told Judge Briggs that Bainbridge and his lover were both heroin addicts and that their relationship was destructive for both parties.

He said Miss Hewitt also wrote in loving terms to Bainbridge while he was in prison, saying things such as “I can’t wait to have your strong arms around me again”.

Mr Hunt said: “It appears that they are, in their own minds, stars of their own soap opera.

“They are two odd characters and seem, to some extent, made for each other.”

The court heard that Bainbridge has previous convictions for stabbing a store detective when caught shoplifting, as well as harassing and assaulting previous partners.

Judge Briggs told him: “You have a number of problems. I am quite satisfied that you are likely to present a significant danger of serious harm to the public.”