A THUG flew into a rage and attacked his girlfriend in the neck with a kitchen fork before trying to strangle her.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Damien Parkinson became angry after his partner looked at messages on his phone.

Victoria Lewis, prosecuting, told how 29-year-old Parkinson and the woman had been in an on/off relationship since 2015 and on October 30 last year she and her brother went to his bedsit where they began drinking.

When the two men left the room to go and make some food she looked at his phone and, when he returned she asked what the messages were about.

A 20-minute argument started during which the woman tried to leave but Parkinson grabbed a fork and pushed her onto the bed.

"He then got on top of her and pressed the fork against her neck which left a small hole," said Miss Lewis.

The woman managed to kick Parkinson away.

"But as she tried to get off the bed Damien grabbed her by the throat and attempted to strangle her using both hands," said Miss Lewis.

The following month, on November 14, Parkinson then sent his victim a string of Facebook messages threatening to disfigure her face and kill her.

One message read: "Got something to make you ugly and I have already paid for it. Watch your face and hair."

Another stated: "I am going to shoot you and ring the police so they shoot me dead. We are going to die."

Parkinson, of Manchester Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and sending threatening communications.

The court heard that, at the time, he was on licence after serving a prison sentence.

Barry White, defending, said: "He realised the effect his actions would have had on his ex-partner and he is remorseful."

He added that Parkinson had been drinking alcohol when he committed both offences.

Judge Graeme Smith sentenced him to 14 months in prison, telling him, "This was a particularly nasty offence".

A restraining order was made banning Parkinson from contacting his victim.