A knife-wielding thug made a tearful apology from the dock to the lover he had punched, bit and threatened to kill.

Michael Yeo, 26, sobbed as he told her: "I'm sorry for everything I've done. I am sorry for what I put you through...You are strong and you are beautiful... I miss you"

He received a seven-year-three-month extended jail sentence for what the judge called "an outburst of shocking violence with knives."

Maidstone Crown Court had heard how in March 2019 Yeo was given a six-year jail term for a number of burglaries.

Prosecutor Kieran Brand told how he was originally expecting to be released next month and in September last year was allowed out on a temporary licence from HMP Sudbury but failed to return.

He added: "In October the defendant, still unlawfully at large, was at the home address of his partner in Chatham.

"At four o'clock in the morning the pair had an argument but went to bed not long after. After a short time, the defendant got on top of her and tried to move her arms.

"She believed that he was playing so moved her arms around. The defendant then punched her to the shoulder and proceeded to bite her to the left side of her face by her ear," he added.

The prosecutor added that Yeo then punched her four or five times to the left shoulder before grabbing her phone and attempting to unlock it but typed in the wrong password.

"He then threw the phone onto the bed and began to cry and apologise. but he blocked her from leaving until she promised they would talk later.

"She walked down the stairs when the defendant grabbed her by the hair and pushed something hard into her back and said, “Just ****** move”.

"She turned around and saw a knife protruding out of his sleeve," he added.

As Yeo was forcing her to return at knifepoint, she fled to the home of a neighbour as Yeo grabbed two knives and began trying to force his way inside making death threats.

Police were called and he was arrested and returned to prison to complete his earlier sentence.

Craig Evans, defending, said the victim was still supporting her lover and had attended each court hearing.

He said Yeo was suffering mental health difficulties and suffered a loss of control.

"His mental health is now stable and he is on medication, " he added.

Yeo, who has no fixed address, admitted assault, kidnapping, affray, damaging property, having a knife and remaining unlawfully at large and was given an immediate jail sentence of five years and three months.

The judge, Recorder Alan Gardner, added another two years on licence which will be served after Yeo is released.

During the hearing Yeo repeatedly mouthed: "I love you" to his victim who sat crying in the public gallery.