A 25-year-old man who grabbed a machete during an assault on his partner in his Bradford flat has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Dillon Newlove did not use the weapon to cause any injuries to his victim, but when police arrived at the flat they found slash marks on the bedsheets.

Prosecutor Adam Walker said jealousy had reared its ugly head in the couple’s relationship and while they were staying in Hebden Bridge, Newlove had put his hands round the woman’s neck and thrown her around the room by her hair.

Mr Walker said Newlove had apologised for his behaviour, but about a month later the woman had been sleeping in his flat at Grattan Studios and was assaulted when she woke up.

Recorder Richard Thyne KC said the complainant had woken to find Newlove in a rage and ranting about a message he had seen on her mobile phone.

He said Newlove armed himself with a machete and said he would kill her.

Newlove, of Grattan Road, pleaded guilty at his trial to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault and he was sentenced to 11 months in jail suspended for two years.

Barrister Nicola Hoskins, for Newlove, accepted that they were unpleasant offences committed in a domestic context.

“He would like the court to know he is sorry about what happened,” she said.

Miss Hoskins explained that Newlove suffered from some mental disorders and was now being intensively monitored by staff at Lynfield Mount every other day.

She said Newlove was being assessed for bipolar and schizophrenia, but he now saw more hope for his future than he had done before.

“He is very keen to continue the programme at Lynfield Mount,” she said.

Recorder Thyne said he had read various reports about Newlove and had read about the many difficult issues in his background.

The judge said the custody threshold was passed, but he concluded that the public would be better protected by a tailored order under a suspended sentence order.

Newlove will now have to take part in a “building better relationships” programme and do 200 hours unpaid work as a punishment for his offending.

He will also have to comply with up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Recorder Thyne warned Newlove that any breaches of the order would lead to him starting to serve the 11-month prison sentence.