A VIOLENT thug who claimed to be the “hardest man in Hampshire” pinned his ex-partner to her bed during a domestic violence attack.
Mitchell Slater let himself into his victim’s home while “heavily intoxicated”, a court heard.
The 39-year-old held the woman down on her bed at a Lymington address before snatching her mobile phone and calling her stepfather.
He threatened: “I am coming to burn your house down.”
Prosecution barrister, Jeffrey Lamb, told how the victim then went downstairs and Slater followed her.
He produced a three-inch knife and hit her with the handle causing her pain and bruising to the sternum.
During two other separate incidents, Slater, a boat builder, kicked the woman and punched her stepfather in the face while on Lymington quay, Mr Lamb added.
In a victim personal statement read out in court the woman described herself as a verbal and physical punch bag adding, “I can’t take any more of this abuse”.
He was arrested and gave a pre-prepared statement in which he said his victim was “jealous” and that is why she made claims against him.
However, Slater, formerly of Andrew Lane, New Milton, gave no comment to any questions during his police interview.
Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, he was charged with three counts of assault by beating and a single count of threatening to destroy or damage property.
He previously pleaded guilty to the offences which happened in September last year.
Slater has 16 convictions stemming from 25 separate occasions with Mr Lamb saying he has a “number of violent offences including battery and affray”.
Defending, Lucie Taylor, said her client was very much dependant on alcohol.
And, that all of the offences were committed while he was heavily under the influence.
However, he wanted to address his drinking problem.
Judge Peter Henry jailed him for 12 months, suspended for two years.
Slater was made the subject of a five-year restraining order and must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
He must undergo six months of alcohol treatment and do 32 sessions on a building better relationships programme.
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