AN ANTIQUE dealer who attacked his girlfriend with an old naval dress sword has been jailed for 12 months.

Bolton Crown Court heard on Friday how Michael Wylie and his partner Deborah Doherty were binge drinkers and there had been violence in their three year "toxic" relationship.

When police officers arrived at their home in Royal Avenue, Seedfield, Bury, at 3.30am on August 2 they found Ms Doherty covered in blood, said Philip Dobson, prosecuting.

The victim, Wylie and his brother Gary were at the house.

"All three appeared, to police, to have been drinking heavily," said Mr Dobson, who added that Ms Doherty's hair was "plastered with blood" and there were wounds to her arms and shoulders as well as deep cuts to her hands.

Officers were told that the injuries had been caused by a sword, which they then found and appeared to have Ms Doherty's hair and blood on it.

The victim refused to go to hospital or make a statement to police, but 56-year-old Wylie accepted he had caused the injuries and pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Stuart Duke, defending, said the Ms Doherty could become violent when drunk and on this occasion had attacked Wylie with her fists.

"He simply grabbed the nearest thing, which happened to be an old naval dress sword," said Mr Duke.

"He didn't initiate the violence, he didn't want the violence. He was in a situation where he was forced to defend himself."

However, he added, Wylie agreed that he went too far on this occasion.

Recorder Michael Blakey accepted that Wylie went further than was reasonable to defend himself and jailed him for 12 months.