A MAN who assaulted his girlfriend just hours after she accepted his marriage proposal has been jailed for two years and two months.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Jonathan Proudman was arrested, but whilst on bail he threatened his victim with contacting social services if she did not withdraw her statement.

Lindsay Thomas, prosecuting, told how 29-year-old Proudman and his girlfriend had spent the afternoon and evening of March 29 drinking in Manchester.

"Whilst in Manchester the defendant proposed to the complainant and she accepted," said Mrs Thomas.

But an argument began when they returned home to Bolton and he grabbed her arm and pinned her to a wall by the shoulders after throwing her laptop onto the floor twice.

Proudman, who has a history of attacking former partners, was arrested and granted bail.

But then he began contacting Ms Rutherford by phone and text message, threatening there would be "trouble" if she did not change her police statement, warning he would injure her friend and telling her he would contact social services to get her children removed from her.

Proudman, of Wemsley Grove, Tonge Moor, pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and witness intimidation.

Colin Buckle appealed to the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, to ensure he gets the help he needs in the community rather than sending him to jail.

"He simply can't maintain normal, healthy relationships with females,  he has never been able to," he said.

"It may be time to deal with his issues for the sake of any partner in the future."

Jailing Proudman, Judge Clayson told him his behaviour had been "outrageous."

"I find particularly distasteful the threats to report her to social services to get her children taken away from her - something which she would have found particularly distressing," he said. "You are going to have to learn, somehow, how to conduct yourself with regard to women."