A DRUG addict 'slashed' his partner in a rage with a knife after she came to see him to help him tackle his addiction.

Thug Leslie Williams left his victim with a three-inch wound to her hand and slash marks to her coat during the vicious attack earlier this year.

The 36-year old of The Vineyard, Abingdon, had already admitted before magistrates one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another of causing criminal damage.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing hearing yesterday how Williams had been trying to come off cocaine and heroin at the time of the attack.

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On March 9 this year in Abingdon his then-partner came to meet him in order to give him money to buy cannabis.

Prosecutor Cathy Olliver said at the hearing that the £10 given to Williams for drugs was to help him cope with the effects of 'withdrawal' in battling his addiction.

The gesture backfired, however, and a row erupted in which the woman asked for her money back.

In a rage Williams then 'pushed' the woman, the court heard, and she staggered back before he went on to 'slash' at her.

As a result of the attack the woman - who had been in a relationship with her aggressor for a year and a half before the incident - suffered a three-inch wound to her wrist.

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She needed treatment for the attack and the wound had to be stitched up.

The coat she was wearing was also slashed during the violence and damaged as a result.

The court went on to hear that Williams had a number of previous convictions including for burglary offences.

Williams represented himself at court yesterday, after declining to have any legal representation.

Addressing presiding Judge Ian Pringle QC he said he had suffered a family tragedy some years ago and had since developed a drugs problem, leading to his recent offending.

The HGV driver said he was committed to turning his life around and said: "I am going to [charity] Turning Point, I have started getting help in prison, I am doing the drug courses.

"I have not touched any drugs or anything since two months.

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"I just want to get my life back and get this sentence over and done with, do my time and when I get out carry on with my life and be a different person."

Judge Pringle said in light of his commitment to tackling his offending he would order a jail term less than he would ordinarily.

Williams was jailed for a total of 10 months and must pay a victim surcharge.