A WOMAN stabbed herself in the stomach in attempts to stop her partner abusing her, a court has heard.

Craig Guntrip, 36, has been jailed for 36 months for two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after attacking his ex-partner in Aylesbury earlier this year.

The pair had been in a relationship for about three years before the incidents happened in February and March.

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Recorder David Whittaker sentenced Guntrip at Reading Crown Court on Thursday (August 10).

The court heard that the first incident happened in February when the defendant became ‘aggressive’, accusing the woman of being ‘unfaithful’ before punching her in the face, grabbing her hair and dragging her across the floor.

Guntrip said the only way the victim could leave the property was ‘if she was dead’.

The victim said the abuse went on ‘for hours’ before she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed herself in the stomach in attempt to stop the attack.

After suffering a hernia from the stab wound, the victim went to hospital the following month and when she returned the defendant attacked her again after seeing a message on her phone.

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He said: “You s***. You f***** my friend.” He then jumped on top of her and squeezed her next with one hand and punched her in the face with the other. She fell in and out of consciousness and asked Guntrip to call her an ambulance.

Initially he refused but he eventually agreed as long she didn’t tell paramedics what he had done.

She described herself as being ‘petrified’ by Guntrip and what he is going to do.

The court heard that Guntrip has 17 convictions for 10 offences, the last being in 2012 for another domestic-related incident.

Through his barrister, Guntrip accepted it was a ‘violent relationship’ and he accepts ‘responsibility for that’.

His barrister states the victim has since written to Guntrip asking for him to be with her but he has allegedly not written back, stating the ‘relationship is toxic’.

He has completed eight courses while in custody, including some focusing on work and drug-use.

Sentencing Guntrip, Recorder Whittaker said: “You’re plainly present a real danger to your ex-partner.”

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He was given 27 months for the first attack and nine months for the second. There is also a restraining order in place for him not to contact or go near the victim.

Guntrip, of Lembrook Walk, Aylesbury, could be heard over the video link from prison saying: “F****g hell, three years.”