A 'controlling' Southampton man who dragged his 'terrified' partner into his car before threatening to 'slit her throat' has been jailed.

George Ashley's attack left his partner with bruising and marks on her neck after a slew of abuse that saw him punch, drag and threaten her on May 12. 

Southampton Crown Court heard the 36-year-old had been seen hitting her in the street.

The victim fled to a stranger's car but Ashley dragged her into her own vehicle and drove off. 

The woman escaped during a stop for petrol but when she arrived home Ashley was there, dragging her into her home and ripping her clothing. 

He locked them both in and demanded she got into bed, telling her if she moved he would "slit her throat".

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She was not allowed to leave the bed until the morning. Police were later told and Ashley was arrested.

Sentencing, Judge Brian Forster KC said: "You knew the complainant for many years. You became involved in an intimate relationship with her.

"You became possessive and you were very controlling of her.

"Matters progressed and abuse and violence became a feature of the relationship.

"It is important to note that she became terrified of you."

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Prosecutor Keely Harvey said the pair had been on a day out in Totton and had visited the Saxon Inn. 

She added that during the drive, he had thrown her phone out of the window.

But Judge Forster said "matters came to a head" when the pair started arguing, leading to her walking away and him following her before he hit her. 

Ashley admitted engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and driving without a licence or insurance. 

He sentenced Ashley to 15 months in jail and made him the subject of a three-year restraining order. 

The floor layer, of Captains Place, Southampton also received six points on his licence. 

Judge Forster added: "Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by the imposition of an immediate sentence. Your future is in your hands.

"If you continue to offend in this way you are going to find yourself in a position where you go to prison for many years."

Ed Wylde, mitigating, said his client is "ashamed of what he did" and is "thoroughly sorry". 

"He knows he behaved awfully."

In a letter to the court, Ashley said: "I feel terrible about my appalling behaviour. It brings me a tremendous amount of guilt and remorse.

"I need to learn complete self-control and stop this behaviour. I am begging for help."