A JILTED lover who put an air rifle to his girlfriend's head then scissors to the throat of his new partner was jailed for nearly five years.

Matthew Bond, 21, drove Danielle Cleaves to mountains in Ebbw Vale then threatened her with the firearm after she told him she was no longer happy with him, a court heard.

Bond threw her mobile phone and dragged her across a mountain before driving her back home, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

He also sent her a series of threatening text messages and attacked her outside a Chinese takeaway, Crown prosecutor Sarah Waters told the court.

He later began seeing Fay Chesterman but attacked her inside her home on June 30 this year, just two months into the relationship, Ms Waters said.

The court heard how Bond acted "like a banshee", at first threatening to kill her with a knife then pressing a cissor blade against her throat.

He then dragged her upstairs in her dressing down and threatened to drown her as he held her head down a toilet bowl one inch from the water for five minutes, Ms Waters said.

Bond, of Clos Trehelig, Ebbw Vale, was convicted of possessing a firearm to cause violence to Danielle Cleaves and one count of common assault against her near a Chinese takeaway following a trial.

He pleaded guilty to a further charge of harassment against Ms Cleaves before the trial.

He also admitted one count of ABH and making threats to kill against Ms Chesterman.

His barrister, Harry Baker, said in mitigation his client was still a young man, received support from his family and stressed he had been of good character before the incidents involving the two women.

Judge Tom Crowther said Bond took Ms Cleaves to mountains in Ebbw Vale to have a chat with her after she told him she was no longer happy with him in the middle of 2012.

He added the attack on Ms Chesterman must have been "terrifying beyond measure".

Sentencing him to a total of four years and nine months, he told him: "The way you behaved towards Ms Cleaves and Ms Chesterman is shameful and cowardly.

"This is plainly so serious only custody can be justified."

Judge Crowther gave him three and a half years for possessing a firearm, three months for common assault and 12 months for harassment against Ms Cleaves, to run concurrently.

He also gave Bond 12 months for ABH and 15 months for threats to kill against Ms Chesterman to run concurrently, meaning his overall sentence is of four years and nine months.

Judge Crowther also imposed restraining orders preventing Bond from contacting the two women indefinitely.

ENDS.