A SOUTHAMPTON man threatened his partner with a knife and asked if she was ready to die, a court heard.

James Walsh dragged his victim into the bathroom of their home after she tried to run away from him.

Prosecution barrister, Sam Barker, told how he produced a very large knife and asked her if she was ready to die.

He added that she responded: “I love you, it’s fine – I am ready to die”.

However, Walsh, 53, said he was not going to “ruin” his life saying it was “not worth it” killing her.

“He made an action as if he was going to stab her but did not touch her with the knife,” Mr Barker added.

Just the day before, an argument broke out between Walsh and his victim over “perceived disloyalty”.

The court heard how he seized the woman and struck her around the head.

She described it as a smack which caused redness and swelling

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, the construction worker of Roundhill Close, was charged with two counts of assault by beating.

He previously pleaded guilty to the attacks which happened in February this year.

Defending, Berenice Mulvanny, said that Walsh had significantly reduced his alcohol consumption since the offences happened.

She described him as a hardworking man and argued the time he had spent in custody and on curfew was the equivalent of a seven or eight month sentence.

Judge Peter Henry described his behaviour as cowardly and thoroughly disgraceful.

He gave him a 24-month community order to include 26 sessions on a building better relationships programme.

He must do 60 hours of unpaid work and six rehabilitation activity days.