A DRUNK who terrorised his cancer patient partner attempted to strangle her and then phoned the police and said he had tried to kill her, a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Howard Hudson, 48, had also put a knife to petrified Karen Girdler's chest in the sustained violence at their Hobart Street home in the town.

Ms Girdler told him: "You love me. You don't want to do this." Hudson's response was: "I'm going to kill you. This needs to happen. You and I are going to die."

The six-and-a half stone victim, who genuinely believed she was living her last moments, managed to get away and went upstairs.

The defendant called the police and then wrapped her handbag around his fist, like a boxing glove, and repeatedly hit her over the head. Police arrived and Hudson told them: "It's me you're after. I tried to kill Karen. She's upstairs."

Hudson, a former lab technician, now of no fixed address, had admitted making a threat to kill and assault causing actual bodily harm. He was locked up for nine months.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said at the time the defendant and victim were partners and had been in a relationship for just over a year.

They had got a house together, but within about a month, Hudson had moved out. He continued to stay there periodically. Part of the problem was Hudson's drinking, for which he was supposed to be receiving help, but wasn't.

Mr Parker said in the weeks leading up to the attack, he had started to become violent towards the victim, particularly when he had had a drink. About three weeks before, she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which appeared to have put added strain on the relationship.

On November 6, the two of them had had a few drinks in town, the defendant carried on drinking after they returned home at about 10.30pm and they argued.

Ms Girdler went upstairs to get away, he followed, the row continued, but eventually he went back down and she fell asleep. When she woke up an hour or so later, she thought he had probably left, went down to the kitchen to get some water and the defendant went towards her, grabbed her by the throat and pulled her to the floor.

The defendant had a previous conviction for pulling a knife on some youths in drink in 2007.

Mark Stuart, for Hudson, said there had been no previous reports of domestic violence, no call outs by the police.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt said the defendant was not a dangerous offender. She told Hudson:"It was a very frightening experience for this woman. Your only explanation is excessive drink."