Police today stepped up a manhunt after a teenager had a knife held against her neck during a terrifying attack at a party.

Serial offender Michael Easy, who has a history of attacking women, is wanted by officers in Hampshire after the alleged assault on a 19-year-old woman in Southampton over the weekend.

Police launched a hunt yesterday to track down Easy and today he is still missing.

The 27-year-old is accused of punching his female victim in the face, kicking her in the thigh and cutting her neck with an eight-inch silver knife, after gate-crashing a party in Alma Road on Saturday evening.

He is then accused of dragging her out on to the street, as she was bleeding from the cut to her neck, before she managed to escape from his clutches and raise the alarm.

Police have warned members of the public not to approach Easy, who they believe is still in the Southampton area, as he is deemed potentially dangerous.

He is also alleged to have threatened to harm the victim’s family.

Officers want to hear from anyone who has information about his location or who has seen him since the alleged assault on Saturday.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Paul Gelman said: “Hampshire Constabulary has a zero tolerance approach to knife crime and violent assaults and would urge anyone with information as to Michael Easy’s location to contact the police.

“If Michael Easy is seen, do not approach him. Contact the police immediately.

“We would suggest to Michael Easy that he surrender himself to a local police station, to ensure the safety of himself and others.”

Easy, of no fixed abode, has a string of previous offences, including an unprovoked attacked on his girlfriend, in front of her three-year-old son, nearly four years ago, that saw him sent to jail.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the then 23-year-old dragged his girlfriend from the bathroom to the bedroom where he repeatedly struck her on the head.

He also punched her and kicked her at least twice while she was lying on the floor.

Easy, who at the time already had 27 previous convictions, admitted causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for 16 months.

But that wasn’t the first time he found himself behind bars.

In March 2008, Easy was jailed for two years after being found with seven wraps of heroin when he was on bail for theft.

Anyone with information should contact PC Katie Holmes or PC Daniel Toman at Southampton Central police station on 101