A VILE man from South Ayrshire has been sentenced to four and a half years in jail after attacking a woman and threatening to ‘skin her alive’.

Arthur Tait, 36, who launched the attack on Lynsey Cooper in July this year, left her so terrified that she tried to smash a window to get help.

During the ordeal, Tait also poured cooking oil over his victim while he kept her trapped in his flat.

The woman stayed overnight in Tait’s flat before going to visit a friend. But Tait later turned up demanding she “get her f***ing stuff” from his home.

Prosecutor Martin Richardson QC said Tait’s victim was “confused” at this, but reluctantly agreed to return. Shortly afterwards, back at the flat Tait pounced and began punching his friend.

The thug then proceeded to retrieve a frying pan filled with cooking oil and threw it over her.

Richardson added that Tait then threatened to skin her alive.

After retreating to the bathroom to cut herself with a razor, in a plea that Tait would let her go, Tait grabbed her and told her “she was going nowhere.”

Miss Cooper was then forced to use a toothbrush holder to smash a window to yell for help.

Tait then proceeded to land more blows as passing police heard the woman’s cries.

As the police turned up, Mr Richardson stated: “Arthur Tait said Miss Cooper had attacked him.”

This was despite the victim lying in the flat “covered in blood.” Tait was arrested, but insisted it was “lies”.

Tait then went on to be abusive to police and security staff at court the next day.

He yelled at one guard: “I will see you outside, you fat b*****d.”

Tait also made a “slashing” gesture across his cheek and continued ranting: “I am going to get you and your family. I will stalk you. You don’t know what I am capable of.”

On top of his jail sentence, Lord Burns ordered the thug to be monitored for eight years on his release.

The judge told him: “You pushed and throttled her to the extent her breathing was restricted – all over a long period of time.”

Tait was also jailed for six years in 2006 for terrorising an ex-partner, including setting fire to her leg.