A YOUNG lout who tormented his teenage girlfriend just days after avoiding prison was behind bars last night for a series of assaults on her.

Sean Taylor was locked up for more than three years for harassing the schoolgirl and breaching a suspended jail sentence imposed in January.

Taylor, 21, was also slapped with a restraining order banning him from going near the 16-year-old, a Darlington school and a housing estate.

A judge sitting at Teesside Crown Court told the bully that he came close to receiving an extended sentence for the protection of the public.

The court heard that he has a string of previous convictions for assaulting girls and young women as well as for robbery and wounding.

Taylor, of Morpeth Avenue, Darlington, received a 16-week sentence, suspended for a year, for shoplifting and harassing store staff.

Before his case at magistrates' court, he went to his girlfriend's school to say his final goodbyes - but escaped with the suspended term.

A week later, he got the teenager from class and spat in her face, and she revealed to staff a catalogue of previous acts of violence.

The court heard how he attacked the girl on a number of occasions in December last year and falsely accused her of dating other boys.

On New Year's Eve, Taylor punched her in the face at her grandmother's home and bust her lip, Graeme Gaston, prosecuting, said.

The court heard that on one occasion he also held a carving knife to the girl's throat and warned: "This is what you're going to get tonight."

He admitted harassment and breaching the suspended sentence and was jailed for three years and four months by Recorder Bryan Cox, QC.

Carl Swift, mitigating, said the girl was not prepared to give up on Taylor and hoped he would be able to make something of his life.

"The defendant is fully aware he needs help with his temper, particularly around females," Mr Swift said. "He accepts he has a problem.

"He needs to stay out of her life and knows that is something that will benefit both her and him, but she has not written him off."

The court heard that he also has a conviction for perverting the course of justice by threatening a girl who was to give evidence against him.

Mr Recorder Cox told Taylor: "You plainly tormented her and were frequently violent. You used a weapon to frighten her.

"I must treat this as conduct which represents extremely serious harassment. Your conduct undoubtedly had a serious effect.

"You have a history of committing offences of violence and you confess to the probation officer that you habitually carry knives.

"In my view, the victim requires protection from you and you must learn that behaviour like this simply cannot be tolerated."