A THUG who terrorised his wife saying he would burn down a bungalow as she barricaded herself inside a bathroom is finally behind bars.
Stephen Price left his victim so traumatised she has been suffering nightmares since the incident that took place in Malvern last year.
The 58-year-old had only admitted counts of threatening to kill and assault occasioning causing actual bodily harm to a woman, his wife Denise Price, on the day of his Worcester Crown Court trial last month.
He returned to the court on Tuesday, (February 7) for sentencing.
Andrew Davidson, prosecuting, said the pair were married in 2016 after a two-year relationship but Mrs Price became concerned by his behaviour.
The court heard at the time of the offence Price, of Holmer Road, Hereford, would drink nine cans of Carling a night and often smash up property in the home.
Mr Davidson said on March 9 Price had been in a mood shouting offensive language while he played an online Poker game on his Xbox.
The prosecutor said: "He (Price) said he wanted whiskey and coke, but Mrs Price said there was no coke.
"He asked her to take over the game while he went outside for a smoke - she was scared he would become angry if she lost."
When he returned Price told his wife "see you have lost", before "building himself into a rage", Mr Davidson said.
The court heard Price pushed his wife into the bathroom of the bungalow before placing both hands around her throat.
Price told his wife that if their marriage was over he was "going to kill her", saying it was worth going to prison for.
After managing to push past him Price again grabbed his wife's neck.
After managing to free herself, Price told her: "The only way you are going to get out of here now is if you die".
After demanding thousands of pounds from her the victim then ran back into the bathroom barricading herself in and calling the police, leaving the phone running.
"He told her he was going to burn the bungalow down," Mr Davidson said.
"He was using a lighter on the (bathroom) door - she could smell burning.
"Fortunately police attended before there was any fire."
The prosecutor said while on bail for the offences Price even returned to the victim's house a month later causing damage.
And, while escaping from her son, Price ran up railway lines before being caught by police.
In her victim personal statement Mrs Price said: "I have horrible nightmares almost every night.
"I relive the incident and have to go through what happened again."
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Jason Aris, defending, said Price had shown remorse after hearing the 999 call.
"He was horrified as to how he sounded and how aggressive he was," Mr Aris said.
Mr Aris said Price wanted to wish his wife well and stress to her he would not trouble her again.
He added Price was in a new relationship and had been addressing his alcohol issues.
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Sentencing Price, His Honour Judge Jonathan Salmon said there had been "significant and frightening violence" that night.
"She (the victim) begged you to stop," the judge said.
"She has been traumatised by events that evening."
Price sobbed in the dock as the judge told him he would be jailed for 36 months.
Judge Salmon also handed Price a 10-year restraining order not to contact the victim.
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