AN ALCOHOL-fuelled Bournemouth man armed himself with kitchen knives and threatened to kill his terrified girlfriend after an argument flared over what they should watch on television.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Gary Elverd, 29, from Calvin Road, had lost his temper at his girlfriend’s home on February 12 this year.

Prosecuting Elaine Jones said: “They were watching TV and the defendant became annoyed about what was on.

“An argument developed and she began to feel scared. He went into the kitchen and got three knives out of the drawer.”

In a statement his victim said: “He started throwing them. I was trying to grab his wrists and getting really scared. I was begging him to put them down. Then he went into the lounge with a knife in each hand.”

After pointing a blade at her, Elverd told her: “I’m going to kill you.”

She said: “I truly believed him. He threw them in my direction, hitting walls, and was totally expressionless.”

The woman rang the police and when officers arrived at the Bournemouth address they managed to disarm Elverd before arresting him.

She said later: “I truly believe the police saved my life on this occasion.”

On his way to Bournemouth police station, Elverd became aggressive and threatened to bite off a police constable’s nose.

He admitted making threats to kill, three charges of criminal damage, two assaults, theft and breaching a suspended sentence.

Defending, Les Smith said Elverd and his victim were “still friends” and he had hoped that she would come to court after receiving “loving” correspondence from her while he was in prison.

He described his client as “a broken man” who had suffered from mental health problems after starting to use cannabis at the age of 14 and drinking heavily from the age of 16.

Mr Smith added: “This was the most meaningful relationship he has had. He inflicts more violence on himself than anyone else.”

Recorder Edward Burgess jailed Elverd for 22 months and made a restraining order preventing him from contacting his former girlfriend.