A THUG who attacked his partner on Christmas Day and then later stabbed her has been jailed for two and a half years.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Benjamin Rooney carried out a “campaign of violence” against his girlfriend which culminated in him stabbing her thumb with a knife.

William Donnelly, prosecuting, told how Rooney began a relationship with the woman in October last year and it was initially happy.

“But matters soon began to take a turn for the worse as Mr Rooney began to become more controlling and possessive towards her,” said Mr Donnelly.

“There was, in effect, a campaign of violence.”

On Christmas day an argument broke out between Rooney and his partner at a family party when he verbally abused her, spat at and pushed her.

Then two days later, the court heard, there was another row when they were at a pub with friends and he pulled her hair.

He left in a taxi and, when she got home he threatened her with a knife.

She fled to her car in a bid to get away from him, but he followed her, smashed her interior mirror and threatened her again with the knife until she agreed to go back into the house.

Mr Donnelly told how the most serious attack happened on January 31 after the couple had gone for a night out in Bolton and another row broke out, with 28-year-old Rooney spitting at his partner, forcing her to go to a separate part of the bar to avoid him.

Rooney attacked her when she got home, hitting her over the head with her handbag and stamping on and kicking her leg.

Arming himself with a knife, Rooney threatened to kill her and, in the bathroom, stabbed her in the thumb.

The relationship ended but she did not report the attacks to police until two months later.

“He continued to contact her and wouldn’t leave her alone and at that stage she decided she had to involve police,” said Mr Donnelly.

Rooney, of Cravenwood Rose, Westhhoughton, was arrested and pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, possessing a knife, three charges of assault and criminal damage.

Paul Bryning, defending, said Rooney, who has a criminal record for robbery and violence, had been working long hours at the time of his relationship.

“Very foolishly he turned to alcohol and cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said Mr Bryning.

“He did not realise quickly enough how these affected his behaviour and demeanour.”

Jailing Rooney, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson told him: “When you drink and take drugs you become a cowardly bully.

“Frankly, you should be totally ashamed of your conduct.”