A 24-YEAR-OLD Amblecote man who sent a string of threatening text messages to his estranged partner before going to her home armed with a large kitchen knife has avoided being locked-up.

Umit Ekinci told her in one message: "Don't make me angry. You know what I will do," Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He said Ekinci was shouting as he banged and kicked the front door of the property before throwing the knife in the direction of his former partner's mother.

Ekinci, of Bissell Way, admitted harassment and possessing an offensive weapon and was given a nine-month jail term suspended for 18 months.

He was further placed on Supervision for 18 months by Recorder Michael Wasik who also made an 18-month restraining order forbidding him from having any contact with his former partner.

The Recorder told him: "This was a serious disturbance arising out of problems with your long term partner. You sent a number of threatening text messages before brandishing the knife in the street."

Sarah Hurd, defending, said Ekinci, a man of previous good character, accepted it was a "disturbing" incident when things "got a little out of hand."

She told the court Ekinci, who had alcohol issues, had clearly "over-reacted" to the situation and it was his wish to rekindle the relationship.