A dangerous man who broke his ex-partner's arm with an iron bar in a fit of jealousy has been jailed for five years.
Jailing 24-year-old Jonathan Vize at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Patricia Smyth said she was satisfied from reports and his previous offending that he was a danger "to female partners in particular" and that as such, it would be up to the parole commissioners whether to release Vize half way through his sentence.
She had heard that Vize was jailed for common assault in 2007 after he punched another ex-partner, who was four months pregnant at the time, in the stomach and face, causing two black eyes.
On this occasion, said prosecuting lawyer Philip Henry, Vize's latest victim had received a phonecall from another man on 17 July last year.
"He became jealous and started shouting," said the lawyer adding that Vize then went into the hallway, lifted an iron drop-bar from the front door and came back into the living room with it raised above his head.
Fearing he was going to hit her in the head, Vize's ex-partner raised her arms in defence and he hit her five times with the bar, breaking her left arm.
Mr Henry told the court that when she tried to flee to a bedroom to get their baby daughter, Vize grabbed her by the throat and threatened: "You tout on me and I'll come back and kill you - you know I will."
Eventually, after she reassured him she would not tell, Vize let her go and the lawyer said that initially, she was reluctant to go to the police.
It was only the next day when Vize's victim went to hospital and X-ray's revealed the fractured left ulna and Vize was arrested.
Although he denied any wrongdoing during police interviews Vize, from Ailesbury Crescent in Belfast, later pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Defence QC Bara McGrory said Vize was a "troubled young man" who had difficulty in coming to terms with his own behavioural problems, adding that he is "a danger to himself as much as he is to anyone else".
© UTV News