A violent criminal, who became a ‘born again’ Christian, has been jailed for putting a knife to his girlfriend’s throat and telling her she was going to die.

Morgin Kofa, 50, was sentenced to two years in prison over the ‘wicked attack’ on his partner, who he had met in church.

Recorder Dennis Watson QC told Burnley Crown Court that he had acted with ‘cruelty’ when he subjected her to an ordeal lasting over several hours.

During the attack he also cut her cheek with a knife and used it to hack away at her hair.

Kofa, who is formerly of Oswaldtwistle, made headlines in 2009 after being baptised at Accrington Hope Metro Church.

He has a conviction dating back to 1997 for causing actual bodily harm.

Martin Hackett, prosecuting, told the court that Kofa smelled of alcohol when he returned home to Manchester Road, Burnley, on September 9.

His partner of two years told police an argument began about a laptop computer and Kofa hit her in the face.

She said he dragged her to the floor, pulled a knife from his back pocket and began stabbing the settee.

He smashed the laptop screen and told her: "You’re going to die, we’re both going to die tonight."

The victim said her mouth was gaffa taped and she was taken to the bedroom where Kofa began slashing at the sheets.

During the incident Kofa cut her left cheek with the knife and called her a number of obscene names.

When she asked him for some tablets and water he returned and began stuffing them into his own mouth.

Mr Hackett said the victim, who was ‘petrified’, tried to diffuse the situation by persuading Kofa he should go to hospital because of the medication he had taken.

She also remembers Kofa hacking at her hair with the knife and urinating on the landing during the incident at his partner’s Burnley home. Mr Hackett said the victim, who tried to attract attention by banging on the floor, was told to lie on the bed where the knife was held to her throat making it difficult for her to breath.

Throughout the ordeal, which the victim believes lasted until around 5am, she was unable to leave the house. She suffered an 8cm cut to her left thigh, a cut to her cheek and bruising to her collar bone, arms and face. Kofa, currently of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to assault occasioning ABH, a threat to kill and criminal damage.

Mark Stuart, defending, said his partner had conceded that Kofa had never behaved in this way throughout their two year relationship, though she believed he had begun drinking again prior to the incident. He said the defendant, who met the woman through church, was remorseful and had attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.