A MAN charged with serious assault after allegedly choking his partner, throwing her against a fireplace and holding a knife at her head has claimed he was acting in self-defence.

Defence solicitor Ellen Macdonald lodged the special defence on Jordan Boyd's behalf after the 32-year-old appeared from custody at Greenock Sheriff Court.

Boyd, a prisoner at HMP Low Moss, is accused of attacking the woman at a property in Port Glasgow on February 13.

He is said to have grabbed the alleged victim, thrown her against a table and a fireplace, thrown her to the floor, pursued her and brandished a glass bottle at her.

Prosecutors claim he repeatedly kicked the woman on the body, restrained her, seized her by the neck restricting her breathing, and held a knife at her head to her severe injury.

The accused is also charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence towards the woman and refusing to leave when requested to do so.

Boyd denies the allegations and a jury trial has been scheduled for January 29 next year.