'Ticking bomb' Stourbridge thug gets six years

She then heard a 'click' which could have been the trigger being pressed on the unloaded weapon as they sat together in his car on a remote farm track, it was said at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Furious Richard Preston told her: "I would rather see you dead than with anyone else." He was ruled a danger to the public and given a six year jail term with an extended period of licence on release.

The woman had ended their eight month relationship after it was punctuated by a series of 'unpleasant assaults,' said Mr David Iles, prosecuting, who added: "When she heard the clicking sound she didn't know if it was the trigger or something else. It was a very frightening moment."

She had been left scarred both physically and emotionally by regular beatings during which the vicious 28-year-old hit and bit her, the court heard. "She had hoped he would change but he didn't," continued the prosecutor.

On August 25 last year she agreed to meet again for a dinner date but was driven from Wordsley to a bridal path near Enville where he produced the pistol. It was never recovered.

Preston calmed down, apologised after twice threatening her with the gun and drove her home but four days later chopped her across the throat and bit her hand at another meeting, revealed Mr Iles.

Police - who had not been alerted to the violence during the relationship - were called and the defendant was arrested on September 1.

Mr Niall Skinner, defending, said: "He accepts he was jealous and thought she was cheating. He went, in his own words, crazy and lost it. He was addicted to steroids.

"There was an assault followed by an apology and then the cycle would start again. He has a problem with anger and a tendency to strike out and hurt partners when things don't go his way."

Preston, a father of one, has been weaned off steroids during the seven months spent in custody before sentencing and was finally coming to terms with what his life should be rather than what it was, declared Mr Skinner.

The defendant from Brooklands, Wordsley admitted five assaults, a common assault, possession of an imitation gun with intent to cause fear of violence, driving when disqualified and criminal damage.

He was jailed by Judge Amjad Nawaz who told him: "This is a horrifying catalogue of offences. You are jealous and obsessive man with a violent past and mental health history who represents a danger to the public, especially those with whom you have a relationship. You are a ticking time bomb."