A bitter ex-boyfriend broke into his former partner's home and attacked her because he thought she was in a new relationship.

Frank Spencer crept into the property through an insecure door and pounced on her in her bedroom.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the violence, in May last year, left the victim with "physical and mental damage" and living in fear.

The court heard the victim had been upstairs at her home in Sunderland when Spencer got in.

Prosecutor Gurjot Kaur said: "She heard someone in downstairs. The defendant came into her bedroom, called her a sl*t, grabbed her by her hair and ragged her around the bedroom.

"He hit her head on the bed, dragged her into the bathroom and shoved her onto the toilet."

The court heard Spencer stood outside the bathroom so she was trapped inside but eventually went back in.

Miss Kaur added: "He pushed her into the bath, pulled her around by her hair and dragged her back to the bedroom."

Spencer then demanded the victim's phone and pin to unlock it, which she handed over while "terrified".

While he was distracted with that the woman, who was bruised and had a cut to her head which was bleeding heavily, managed to run out and get help.

Miss Kaur said a male neighbour who heard the disturbance went to help and Spencer picked up a knife and warned: "I will be back to get you later"

The woman said in an impact statement this caused her "physical and mental damage" and nightmares and left her feeling unsafe in her home.

Spencer, 39, of Portsmouth Road, Sunderland, who has a criminal record, admitted burglary, assault and threatening with a bladed article.

Recorder Jonathan Sandiford KC jailed him for four years and eight months and told him: "It seems that the primary motive for this offence wasn't only the breakdown of the relationship but your belief she had formed a relationship with another person."

Jane Foley, defending, said the attack was "deeply wrong and frightening for her" and added that Spencer, who has been living a "chaotic" lifestyle is now try to confront the root causes of his behaviour.

Miss Foley said there was a suggestion the victim had another relationship and the offence was "fuelled by emotion".