A father who drunkenly threatened to cut off his partner's head with a machete has been jailed.

Bryan Butler, 36, also smashed up a television, kettle, light fittings and a bannister at his home in Ruskin Close, Didcot, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Julian Jones, prosecuting, said Butler's partner Julia Hutchinson had told him to either go to bed or leave the house, at which point he "lost it".

Mr Jones said Butler picked up knives and the machete and told Miss Hutchinson: "I am going to kill you."

As her daughter dialled 999, Butler grabbed Miss Hutchinson, holding the machete blade against her neck.

The court heard Miss Hutchinson injured her hands grabbing hold of the machete blade to protect herself.

Butler admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and damage to property on March 18.

Rachel Drake, defending, said the couple had been under pressure after having twins, and because Butler had lost contact with his son from a previous relationship.

She said: "It is very clear from Miss Hutchinson's statement that this is an isolated incident."

Jailing Butler for 12 months, Judge Tom Corrie said: "What you did was to put your partner and her children from a previous relationship through a terrible ordeal because you were, among other things, drunk and quite simply lost control of yourself."

"If she hadn't have believed you were going to do that she wouldn't have hurt herself by grabbing the blade."

For threats to kill and assault causing actual bodily harm, Butler, of Ruskin Close, Didcot, was jailed for 12 months.

For possession of the machete he was jailed for six months and for criminal damage, two months. The sentences are to run concurrently.