A MAN spent new year in jail after he cut his girlfriend's neck with a razor blade.

Ronnie Johnston, 24, also pulled Karen Walker's garden gate off its hinges, attacked her front door and threatened to kill her in a night of violence in Bell Farm Avenue, York, magistrates heard.

Defence solicitor Helen Morris said: "It is a very tempestuous relationship, to say the least. It is a relationship they would both be better off out of but, despite everything, they seem determined to remain together."

Johnston, of Kirkham Avenue, off Huntington Road, York, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage.

York magistrates jailed him for two months. It was his third conviction for violence, and he had failed to respond to previous community sentences.

Rob Galley, prosecuting, said that, at 7pm, on October 20, Johnston got into Ms Walker's house through a window.

Mr Galley said: "An argument developed, during which the defendant pushed the safety razor to her neck area and said to her It isn't over until I say it's over'."

The blade made a 1cm cut.

Johnston then left and Ms Walker went out for the evening.

But, at 2.30am, while she was talking to neighbours in the street, Johnston returned and ran towards her.

She went home and he took the gate off its post and attacked the front door, saying: "You had better let me in, or I will kill you."

Mr Galley added that Ms Walker was too scared to let him in and dialled 999.

Mrs Morris said Johnston was getting contrary signals from Ms Walker about whether or not she wanted him in the house.

The solicitor said that, earlier in the evening, Ms Walker had let Johnston into the house as he wanted to wash and shave.

But they argued and he held the safety razor, with its plastic cover on, against her neck with the blade pointing outwards.

He drank while away from the house and got a message inviting him back.

Mrs Morris said Johnston accepted he had a problem and needed help. He was extremely sorry for what he had done, which happened when he lost his temper.