Man held former partner prisoner

Paul Scott was waiting for Kelly Cartwright when she got in after a night out with friends last September, Matthew Gent prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court.

Although their 16 year relationship had ended last year he had a key to her address in Oakfield Crescent, Knottingley from helping her around when she hurt her foot.

She had not replied to his phone calls and text messages during the evening and was surprised to find him inside the house when she got home at 4.20 am claiming to have had an accident in his car.

She had been drinking and said she could not drive him anywhere and asked him to leave but he did not, so eventually she went up to bed and got partially undressed having told Scott to sleep on the sofa or in another room.

But he then entered her bedroom taking her mobile phone and accused her of sleeping with other men.

He slapped her face and when the arguing continued downstairs he pushed her on to the floor before he armed himself with a kitchen knife.

He then cut her top and slashed her clothes until she was naked.

Mr Gent said she was terrified and feared Scott was going to kill her. He bound her hands and mouth with tape and tried to cut her hair with the knife.

Eventually he did free her and give her a blanket, and when she heard him go upstairs she took the opportunity to escape to a neighbour’s house.

Scott, 35 of Northfield Road, Knottingley was jailed for 28 months after admitting false imprisonment. Judge Geoffrey Marson QC told him “It must have been a terrifying experience.”

Andrew Stranex for Scott said he bitterly regretted his behaviour. He had hoped for a reconciliation and only cut her clothes to prevent her wearing them for anyone else.