A MAN has been jailed for six years after he threatened to kill a woman at knifepoint in Basingstoke.

Paul John Tidbury, 32 - also known as Paul John Harfield - left the woman’s parents’ house on Thursday, January 20 after an “altercation” with neighbours, the court heard.

Tidbury, formerly of Burchell Road, Newbury, and currently of no fixed abode, went with the woman to a nearby pub and drank, before they went to a hotel.

Following an argument, he became aggressive towards her - threatening to kill her, and members of her family, and brandishing a knife.

Judge Andrew Barnett said: “You lost it with her, in that you made vile threats to kill her, and this extended to other members of her family. I accept that you used that knife to reinforce those threats that you made.

“I recall the statement as to the trauma that she has suffered. It has left her with psychological scarring and some physical difficulties. That makes the matter so much more serious.

“You are 32 years old and you have over 100 offences recorded against you.”

The father-of-two was cleared of three sexual offences against the woman at Winchester Crown Court earlier this year, as well as a dangerous driving offence.

However the jury found him guilty of causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage to the woman’s mobile phone, possession of a knife, and driving while disqualified.

Salisbury Crown Court heard on Friday (October 30) that he has since been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), resulting from his “horrific” childhood.

His mother was a victim of domestic abuse, and he himself was “seriously assaulted” on two occasions, most seriously at the age of 15, leaving him with problems in his left eye ever since.

Ms Sadie Rizzo, prosecuting, recommended the offences be considered a category 1A, with a starting point of four years in prison.

In mitigation, Steven Molloy, defending, drew attention to Tidbury’s admission of causing the woman harm, and desire to seek support to cope with the affects of his psychiatric condition.

“Given the history, I think it’s fair to say that Mr Tidbury had something of a horrific childhood,” he said.

“Mr Tidbury has previously asked for support but, on each occasion, he has never quite qualified. He has always known he had something in his head. He spoke to me about having an anger in his head and not knowing why..

“Mr Tidbury is someone who could potentially benefit from treatment, initially in custody and hopefully eventually in the community. He is somebody who wants to change, who wants support, and who has asked for the support before. Now he has the diagnosis, he will hopefully have the opportunity to do that.”

However, Judge Barnett said he “had to consider dangerousness.”

He said: “What is increasingly plain to me is that there are many people who are of the view that you are a dangerous person. I take into account the difficulties that you had to suffer. You had a rotten childhood but I have to deal with you now.

“The fact remains that the threats to kill, which seems to me by far the most serious offence, falls in my judgement into high culpability and I am afraid I can not reduce it by virtue of the mental health concerns.

“In my judgement you are dangerous, in that there is a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm by you. I would be failing in my duty if I did not pass an appropriate sentence.”

He gave Tidbury an extended sentence, made up of 4.5 years custodial term, and an extension of 18 months, bringing the total jail time to six years.

Tidbury will not be able to apply for parole until he has served two thirds of this time - a minimum of four years.

The jail term included concurrent sentences for each of the additional offences.

He also received a three year driving disqualification, extended for an additional three years due to his jail time.

“That is the least sentence I can pass on you in the hope of giving the public some protection from you in the immediate future,” said Judge Barnett.