A WOMAN who half-choked her former partner and earlier held a knife to her throat has been jailed for two years.

York Crown Court was told Patricia Cruddas feared she was dying as Sarah Elizabeth Brough held her lower face and neck.

Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting, said Brough had arrived drunk at Ms Cruddas’ home at 2.30am on March 24 and they argued before Brough fell asleep on the sofa. The next morning, the argument continued and, despite Ms Cruddas’ pleas to be left alone, Brough grabbed her, pinned her arms to her body and in the struggle that followed half-choked her.

After her arrest, Brough, 42, told a probation officer she had held a knife to Ms Cruddas’ throat on an earlier occasion and warned both the officer and police “I am going to kill her”. She has three decades of violent convictions including wounding.

Brough, of Harington Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, stealing Ms Cruddas’ phone and assaulting her.

A judge decided he could not lock her up indefinitely for public protection because her crimes weren’t serious enough.

Judge Shaun Spencer QC told her: “Not only did you make the threats, but you meant them,” and called her a “significant risk” to the public.

But because her latest crimes did not merit locking her up for at least four years, he could not give her an indefinite sentence under which she would only be released if the Parole Board decided she was no longer a danger to the public.

In an unusual move, the judge outlined conditions he wanted the Parole Board to add to Brough’s prison licence when she is released including not contacting Ms Cruddas in any way and staying at least 100 metres from her home. He also made a restraining order with similar conditions that she must obey or face a return to jail.

For Brough, Adam Birkby said the psychological effects for Ms Cruddas must have been terrifying, but the resulting physical injuries were minor. Brough’s upbringing had left her very insecure and angry towards others and she also had a drink problem. She wanted to sort herself out so she was no longer a risk to others.