A MAN accused of beating a former partner and intimidating a witness has been jailed for four years.

Judge Brian Carter QC imposed consecutive sentences on Tabriaz Mahmood, aged 22, of Cecil Street, Bury, after he had been found guilty after a trial on eight charges, including assault, intimidation of a witness and making threats to kill.

But Mahmood was cleared on two rape charges and the jury was discharged after failing to agree on two other charges alleging rape.

The court was told that Mahmood's violence began when his victim was five months pregnant.

Judge Carter told him: "You punched her and kicked her and dragged her downstairs and the police had to break in to help because she was too injured to open the door."

The jury returned guilty verdicts on three charges of common assault but cleared Mahmood of one other charge of common assault.

He was also convicted of making threats to kill and intimidation of a witness.

Mahmood had been on trial at Bolton Crown Court facing a total of 12 charges.

He had been accused of four counts of rape, two charges of causing actual bodily harm, four counts of common assault and making a threat to kill against the woman.

Mahmood was also accused of intimidation by making threats through a third party that the woman should drop the charges.

He had denied all the charges.