A MAN who assaulted his ex-girlfriend and threatened to strangle an eight-year-old boy has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Mohammed Hayat was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday on charges of threats to kill, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, breaching a non-molestation order, and theft.

The court was told that the 29-year-old, of no fixed address, had a schizo-affective disorder and was taking anti-psychotic medication for his mental health issues.

Prosecutor Ken Green said that at about 10.30pm on September 21 last year, Hayat walked into the home of his former partner in Bradford while she was watching television. He had been made subject of a non-molestation order on January 21 last year, forbidding him from contacting the woman or approaching her home.

"She heard someone enter through the unlocked front door and someone coming upstairs," said Mr Green. "It was the defendant."

Hayat went into the woman's bedroom and started shouting 'I'm going to show you now, it's payback time', added Mr Green.

The court heard that Hayat then kicked and broke a cup and, when his ex-partner went to pick it up, he grabbed her from behind and used a butter knife to cut her right wrist and hand.

Mr Green said the incident continued downstairs when Hayat called the frightened eight-year-old boy a name and threatened to strangle him with a Scart lead. Hayat then headed to a nearby takeaway and was arrested by police who happened to be passing.

"He (Hayat) was acting in a very bizarre way," said Mr Green, who added that Hayat's ex-partner had said he "appeared to be disturbed" that night.

Dr Raj Nair, who treated Hayat at Stockton Hall Psychiatric Hospital,York, told the court that he had a schizo-affective disorder and was taking anti-psychotic medication.

He added: "He has been unwell for a long time untreated. If Mr Hayat had not been arrested by police, things could have been much worse.

"A restriction order would be an extra safeguard for public protection."

The court also heard that on September 9 last year, Hayat tried to steal a T-shirt from JD Sports in the Kirkgate Centre, Bradford. Mr Green said Hayat was spotted trying to bite a security tag off the shirt and, when challenged, claimed he was just messing about.

Judge Roger Thomas, the recorder of Bradford, ordered that Hayat be detained in hospital and imposed a restriction order.

He said: "The end result of this case is you are going to be detained still in hospital. So far you are doing well enough, you are taking medication and it is having a good effect on you.

"This is something you are going to have to address for the rest of your life. Hopefully you will keep your mental health under control.

"The risk you pose when you are unwell, particularly using violence and knives, means a restriction order is imposed as well."

The court heard that Hayat has previous convictions for shop theft, possession of a knife and ABH.