A JEALOUS ex who repeatedly stabbed a knife through a door as he threatened to kill his former partner has been jailed for two years.

Scott Symmonds, who was on early release from prison, launched the frenzied attack on the woman in her own home in front of a toddler she was babysitting.

And after she disarmed him and escaped the building the 25-year-old emerged holding the youngster, only to head-butt a policeman who approached to take the child.

Symmonds, who has a history of violence, launched the drunken attack believing his former partner had been unfaithful Swindon Crown Court was told.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said he had been in a relationship with the woman for about a year but she ended it because of his violent behaviour.

On November 1 he went to her flat at about 9pm and started banging on the door demanding to be let in.

Shortly after he climbed in.

He got a large knife from the cutlery drawer while the victim tried to hold the living room door closed.

He repeatedly stabbed the eight inch blade into door shouting ‘I’ll kill you,’ as she fought to keep it shut.

“At one point she could see the knife coming through the living room door,” Miss Squire said.

He got into the room and punched and slapped her face as the toddler screamed in his cot.

His victim punched him back and managed to get out as the police arrived on the scene with a neighbour screaming ‘He’s got a knife’.

Armed with tasers they went to enter the ground floor flat but Symmonds emerged in the doorway holding the child, a relative of the woman.

PC Thomas Fenwick tried to collect the youngster but the defendant wouldn’t let go and butted the officer in the mouth.

Symmonds, of Darling Close, pleaded guilty to charges of actual bodily harm and affray.

The court was told in 2009 he was jailed for four-and-a-half years for stabbing a man in the street with a piece of glass, again while on early release.

In 2007, he got two years for pointing an air rifle in the face of another former girlfriend.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client accepted he was going to get another jail term but needed help when he is released.

Symmonds was jailed for two years with a two year extended licence meaning he will serve a year behind bars and then be under supervision for three years.