A jealous young father throttled his ex-girlfriend as she clung to their young child, a court heard.

Kieron Jones also became enraged and stabbed Ashleigh Sharp’s new boyfriend after finding him in her house.

Baby-faced Jones, 20, and Miss Sharp started a relationship when he was 14 and they had a child when he was 17.

But in November last year Miss Sharp asked Jones to leave her home, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

When he returned to collect some belongings he found her new boyfriend Dean Morrell there.

“You were unable to deal properly with the situation you found yourself in,” said Judge Philip Statman. “No doubt, you felt resentful and a little jealous as well.”

Jones grabbed a knife and waved it around. He ended up outside in Galahad Avenue, Strood, where Mr Morrell suffered a wound to the palm of his hand.

Later in January this year Jones argued with Miss Sharp and punched her twice in the face.

On another occasion Miss Sharp told him she was going to Newcastle and he feared she was taking their son away from him.

He went to her home, pushed her in a corner while she was holding the child and squeezed her by the throat.

On February 17, Jones again went to the address and found Mr Morrell there. He forced his way in, went to the kitchen and picked up a knife.

He told Mr Morrell to leave and there was a struggle. During it he caused a minor cut to Mr Morrell’s ear.

“That is the criminality I have to deal with,” said the judge. “The only issue to determine is how long you should be sent away to a young offenders’ institution for.”

Jones, of John Street, Rochester, admitted unlawful wounding, having an offensive weapon, affray and two offences of assaulting Miss Sharp, who is now four months pregnant, by beating.

Sentencing him to 18 months, Judge Statman said: “If you behave in the manner I have heard of again and you have a weapon near to hand, you put yourself in the gravest peril of appearing in this court for far more serious offences.”

Jones, he said, had responsibility put his way at an early age.

Because of time spent in custody on remand, it would not be long before he was released back into the community, said the judge.

“I ask that the licensing authorities consider you have a course of anger management and domestic violence so that any partner can be spared the ordeal you put Ashleigh to,” he added.

A restraining order banning contact with Miss Sharp was made for four years.