A WOMAN was left “terrified beyond belief” as an ex-partner took hold of a knife which he stabbed into a door at her home.

Daniel Hill, 26, was “drunk and loud” at the woman’s Kendal address at around 1-30am on 26th November.

Hill said he had been released by the police and needed somewhere to stay as he was unable to get into his hostel at that time of the morning.

The woman was on good terms with Hill, Carlisle Crown Court heard, and said he could stay in the living room.

Her new partner was also present and poured a glass of water for Hill, who instead produced a bottle of spirits and cans of lager from his bag. “He was told to stop drinking and go to the living room to sleep,” said prosecutor Ben Stanley.

Hill asked about a phone which the two others knew nothing about, and then began to become aggressive. He moved items off a sofa and, when he caused disruption, the woman started to phone police.

“The defendant’s behaviour escalated,” said Mr Stanley. “He grabbed a knife from the kitchen with a serrated blade.”

Hill also had keys to the flat, prompting the woman to become concerned that she would be locked out. “The defendant has then stabbed the kitchen door, causing damage and also the blade to snap,” said Mr Stanley.

As Hill then took hold of a frying pan, the woman and her partner went downstairs to meet police. “Officers drew a Taser due to the fact they were concerned he might have a blade on him,” said the prosecutor. “He was told to hold out his hands. He refused to go to the floor. Officers took control of him.”

When told he was being arrested for threatening another with a knife, Hill replied: “Show me the bladed article. You have to show me the bladed article by law. Where is it?”

He also stated “I have never used a knife in my life”

In an impact statement, the woman spoke of being startled by noises in the aftermath, saying: “I get so scared thinking it’s Danny again.”

“It doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened. The consequences could have been life-changing, or worse” she also stated, describing being “terrified behind belief”.

Her partner, from whom she had since split, spoke of feeling “weak and powerless” during the incident.

Hill, of Town View, Kendal, admitted affray, damage and possession of cocaine — offences which put him in breach of a previously imposed conditional discharge.

“He says that he doesn’t know what he was thinking,” said defence lawyer Ellie Watson, mitigating. “He tells me that he can understand that it would have been very scary for the complainants.

“He understands that he has made a serious mistake but he is remorseful for that.”

Hill — remanded in custody since November — was given an immediate 12-month prison sentence.

“What you did in 26th November is shocking, “ said the judge, Recorder Julian Shaw. “It would have been extremely frightening, terrifying, I suspect for (the two victims).

Restraining orders were imposed which ban Hill from contacting the woman and man, for five and three years, respectively.