A MAN who threatened his partner with a gun and told her he would throw acid at her has been jailed for 32 months.

Hayley Bennett, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how 52-year-old Glenn Patterson had been in a relationship with his partner since January 2017.

"Mr Patterson's behaviour was volatile throughout and he behaved in a controlling and coercive way way," she said.

Patterson monitored her phone calls and questioned her when she went out.

"This behaviour caused her to limit how often she left home," said Miss Bennett.

In October 2017 he assaulted her after finding a man's number on her phone, punching, slapping her and dragging her by the hair.

Then, in early January this year, they were at his home and he became angry when she wanted to leave.

"He left the room and returned with a gun in his hand," said Miss Bennett.

Patterson told his partner: "This is what happens if you f... me around."

Miss Bennett added: "He told her that he had killed people in the past, been in prison and had been in an organisation in Northern Ireland. His actions caused her to feel frightened."

On January 21 they were at her home when he saw a message on her phone and flew into a rage, locking her in the property, pulling knives from a drawer which he then stabbed into a kitchen table and told her he would attack her with acid.

At 2am he allowed her to go to bed, but followed her, pinning her to the mattress, covering her face with a pillow and squeezing her neck before headbutting her. The following morning, while Patterson was asleep, his partner fled the house to a neighbour and contacted police.

Patterson, of Settle Street, Great Lever, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, assault and using controlling or coercive behaviour.

Mark Friend, defending, said, at the time, Patterson's life was chaotic and marred by drug misuse. Judge Timothy Clayson told Patterson: "This was very serious conduct of its type."