A MAN who threatened to murder his girlfriend and drink her blood has been jailed for more than two-and-a-half years.

Matthew Winstanley, of Alderwood Avenue in Liverpool, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday for sentence.

The 31-year-old had admitted harassment between March 18 and 29, as well as breaching a restraining order from January 1 and March 29.

He'd been made subject to the order in August 2022 after assaulting his partner Brittany Gannon in Greenfield.

Brian Treadwell, prosecuting, told the court they had commenced a relationship in April 2022, but his jealousy would lead to outbursts and anger.

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The offence leading to the restraining order had involved Winstanley kicking and stamping on the victim's face.

Following the imposition of the order, he went on to breach it almost immediately whilst serving his prison sentence by sending letters to the victim, causing her to feel pressured to resume the relationship.

She did resume the relationship in January this year, but Winstanley's behaviour deteriorated when he drank to excess and took drugs.

He persistently called her and demanded photos to establish her location and would blame her for his own failings.

During the period of the harassment, he let himself into her home at 2am with a key he'd refused to return.

He went on to leave messages and threaten Ms Gannon, telling her he would "murder her and drink her blood," as well as telling her he'd "bury an axe in her head," among other threats.

The victim was so fearful that she fled her home, causing significant upheaval and upset.

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In a victim impact statement, Ms Gannon said the relationship with Winstanley had left her "mentally scarred."

She added: "Matthew manipulated me so much, I felt sorry for him.

"My thought process was so distorted from the psychological abuse. I could not think straight."

The court heard Winstanley had 30 convictions for 50 previous offences.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, told the court the victim had contacted the defendant's friends whilst he was in prison to express concern for him and stating she was happy for him to contact her when he got out.

He added: "We don't minimise the seriousness of the threats - they are wholly unpleasant.

"I concede some of the threats can be described as intended to maximise fear.

"But it's very crude - it is terrible calls made without planning or sophistication.

"He was on a spiral of self destruction on alcohol and cocaine - when I played those messages to him in prison, it reduced him to tears and he realised how bad his behaviour had been."

Mr Roberts said the defendant has significant mental health difficulties.

Judge Nicola Saffman said: "This was a lady who had strong feelings for you and there was clearly some complicity with the relationship taking place during the course of the restraining order."

The Judge handed down an overall sentence of two years and eight months, along with a renewed restraining order of 8 years.