A VIOLENT man humiliated and battered his ex-girlfriend, leading her to try to end her life.

James Bloomfield, 28, made his victim endure a traumatic four-month reign of abuse at his hands, while at the same time he was facing similar charges for assaulting another ex-partner.

He repeatedly struck the victim after he drove her to an industrial estate in Swaythling, as well as stealing her mobile phone on three occasions and forcing her to stop seeing her friends.

In one terrifying episode, Bloomfield kicked the woman down, pushed a knife around her throat and threatened to kill her.

In sentencing him to four years in jail, Judge Nicholas Rowland said he had “degraded” the victim and ruined her life.

Prosecutor David Richards told Southampton Crown Court that the relationship began to turn sour in January this year, after Bloomfield had been given a suspended sentence for attacking another ex-lover.

His behaviour intensified and small arguments became bigger rows and Bloomfield began to strike the victim, the court heard.

Mr Richards said in one incident, Bloomfield, who smiled to his family as he was sentenced, repeatedly kicked the victim before telling her he wished he had broken her leg.

On another occasion Bloomfield smacked his ex with a mobile so many times it “left the phone’s imprint” on her body.

Bloomfield initially denied the coercive behaviours, and admitted the charge, along with an offence of assault, on the day of his trial last week.

He also admitted harassing the victim’s friend and father.

Mitigating, Berenice Mulvanny explained the only way for Bloomfield, of HMP Winchester, to alter his behaviour was to complete courses within the community.