A raging thug who threatened to stab his girlfriend and cut out her EYES with a knife before "finishing off the kids" has been jailed. 

Andrew Marshall, 31, returned from a night out drunk and on drugs when his partner, who was asleep on the sofa downstairs, heard him hitting the family dog. 

He then grabbed her by the waist and threatened to cut a tattoo from her hand with a six-inch kitchen knife before saying he would "scoop her eyes out". 

Marshall also held the blade to her stomach and said he would stab her before threatening to "finish off the kids" who were asleep upstairs. 

Marshall, of Somercotes, Derbys., admitted making threats to kill, battery and assault and was jailed for 18-months at Derby Crown Court on Friday.

He was also handed a ten-year restraining order forbidding him to contact the woman for the next decade. 

Recorder David Chinery said: "Clearly you are a man who has had a troubled upbringing but that in my view in no way excuses your behaviour. 

"On this particular night, you arrived home in the early hours of the morning - having consumed a large amount of alcohol and drugs and that clearly brought out the violent side in you. 

"This culminated in a serious and distressing incident for your partner where you held her with one hand and threatened to cut a tattoo from her hand before threatening to stab her and the children who were asleep upstairs. 

"Your partner was in such fear for her safety that she got away from you and got herself and the children out of the house." 

The court heard Marshall launched the shocking attack at the home he shared with his partner at 3.30am on February 11. 

Prosecutor Almas Ben-Aribia said the relationship between him and his partner, who had been together for 11 years and had two children together, was a "violent one". 

She added: "She was asleep on the sofa and the children were asleep upstairs. 

"She was awoken by the sounds of the defendant shouting at and hitting their dog. 

"He grabbed her and was throwing things around, then went onto the kitchen and came back with a knife. 

"He grabbed her wrist with his left hand and held the knife to her hand saying: 'I will cut that tattoo from your hand'." 

Miss Ben-Aribia told the court Marshall then put the knife to her side and said: "I will stab you and the kids will find you dead. Then I will finish the kids off as well." 

Marshall told police he had been drinking with friends and had smoked cannabis and couldn't remember what he had done. 

But Miss Ben-Aribia said: "He told them he remembered telling the victim he would scoop her eyes out with the knife." 

Joe Harvey, defending, said: "He is 31-years-old and a product of the care system. 

"He was placed in a system which passed him from one institution to another where, to toughen up, you have to look after yourself. 

"He accepts he has an ability to not control his temper."