A JEALOUS dad slashed a love rival in the head with a Stanley knife after his ex-partner got a new man.

Stuart Pugh threw punches at Patrick Farrell before he slashed at him with the blade, opening up a cut in the back of his head.

Pugh, who had been following up on threats made via text to his former partner, Romily Hanson, shouted 'I will kill you!'

He slashed out with the blade at Mr Farrell who had been at Miss Hanson's home in Winchester Close, Hagley.

The 34-year-old of Napier Drive, Tipton admitted wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm against Mr Farrell on December 21 last year and sending a threatening text message for the purpose of causing distress and anxiety to Romily Hanson on December 16 last year.

Pugh believed Mr Farrell had moved in with his former partner at the time of the attack which was not true.

The text message read: "Your and his time will come, I promise you that much."

When Miss Hanson asked him what he meant the defendant told her: "I always keep my promises. You will see."

Paul Cook, prosecuting, said Pugh had been in a relationship with Miss Hanson for eight years but they split up in July last year.

In September she informed him she had met someone else.

Pugh attended Miss Hanson's address where Mr Farrell had been wrapping Christmas presents.

Mr Farrell heard a knock at the door and believed it was the postman but when he looked out he recognised the defendant, whom he had never met before, from a photograph.

Pugh shouted 'get down here!' and when Mr Farrell opened the door he grabbed him around the neck and pulled him outside.

Mr Cook said Mr Farrell was trained as a doorman and he resisted, guarding his face with his arms and hands as the men scuffled against a fence.

At one point Mr Farrell asked the defendant 'what have I done to you?'

Mr Cook said: "He (Pugh) tried to push his thumbs into his eye, making him fall backwards. He heard a click. It was the sound of the blade coming out of the Stanley knife.

"He (Pugh) said 'I'm going to kill you!'"

Mr Farrell grabbed the defendant in a bear hug as they grappled as Pugh slashed with the blade.

Mr Farrell suffered a 13.5cm long cut which was 4cm in width and 1cm deep to the back of his head and could feel a significant amount of blood being lost.

Despite feeling 'weak and dizzy' Mr Farrell managed to get back into the house, shut the door behind him and dial 999.

Mr Farrell needed 21 staples in his head and had to be given antibiotics. He was told the wound would leave a permanent scar.

Another wound was closed with a further six staples.

Stephen Cobley, defending, said 18 references had been submitted on Pugh's behalf.

He described the father-of-three was a family man who had also taken on the care of his nephew following a series of personal tragedies.

"It shows in my submission - it is perhaps a hackneyed phrase - a completely different side of him" he said.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright QC took into account that Pugh had suffered bereavement which had affected his emotional state.

He said: "It's clear you're deeply remorseful for what you did and you have pleaded guilty at the very first opportunity."

Judge Cartwright described Pugh as 'a devoted and good father' who had worked hard.

However, he said there were also aggravating features, including previous convictions and the threat in the text message which he had followed up by going around to his ex-partner's home.

He sentenced him to four years and eight months in prison.