A ‘CONTROLLING and bitter’ man who cut his ex-partner's neck with a Stanley knife has been jailed for more than three years.

Martin Lacey, 37, of Abraham Street, in the Infirmary area of Blackburn, held the knife to her neck while she was giving him a lift in her car.

He later made a threatening phone call to get charges against him dropped, and also smashed her car windows.

As police hunted Lacey, an appeal was made of BBC’s Crimewatch television programme before he was arrested.

The judge passing a total jail prison term of three years and four months described him as an emotional and volatile character.

Judge Pamela Badley, sitting at Preston Crown Court, also said: "You come over as being a man who is jealous, controlling, bitter, with a chip on your shoulder and one who has been a controlling influence on your ex partner".

Lacey pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, having an offensive weapon, intimidation, criminal damage and threatening to damage property.

His former girlfriend, Wendy Lynch, had her wound stitched and glued at hospital following the wounding in November 2007. They had previously had a four-year relationship, but by the date of that offence, were living separate lives.

Hours beforehand, he had accused her of sleeping with someone else.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said on the morning of November 2, Ms Lynch, agreed to collect him from a bank in Blackburn and take him to work.

Once in the vehicle, the defendant then repeated the accusation about her sleeping with someone else.

Mr Lamberty told the court: "She told him not to be silly and indicated she would drop him off at his father's because she had had enough, as it were.

"The defendant reached between the two front seats and hit her once on the left ear. She didn't know whether it was with an open hand or closed fist.

"She slowed the car right down, intending to get out and had put her legs out when she felt something cold on her neck. She realised it was the Stanley knife the defendant frequently took with him to work.”

Lacey had previous convictions. In 2001 he was given four-and-a-half years prison for drug offences and having a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Hugh McKee, defending, said his child by Wendy Lynch was the most important thing in his life and he wanted to establish and keep contact with her.

"He knows he must undertake a number of courses while in the prison system.

"He fully intends to take up each and every one of them.”