A MAN has been jailed after he accused his ex-girlfriend of wanting to abort their child and threatened to kill her.

Steven Ovenden, prosecuting, said Daryll Wayne Casey told his victim he was going to slit her throat and he later sent a text saying: “If you terminate my baby, I am going to make your children parentless.”

When police arrested him, he told officers: “She deserved it because she is getting rid of my baby.”

Casey, of The Leyes, Osbaldwick, pleaded guilty to harassment between February 13 and February 20, and was jailed for four months.

He was also made subject of a restraining order that prevents him contacting his former girlfriend, going on to the estate where she lives, going within 100 metres of a nursery attended by her children and causing her distress, either directly or indirectly.

Casey’s solicitor, John Howard, said his client had a drink problem.

Mr Ovenden said Casey was warned not to harass the woman by police after he was arrested and charged with an offence of criminal damage committed on February 6.

Then the woman found out she was pregnant and made arrangements to meet Casey at a friend’s house. At the meeting, Casey reduced her to tears by twice threatening to slit her throat. He was arrested but later released and a few days later sent the text message.

Mr Howard said Casey received a conditional discharge for the criminal damage. He had broken some items in the family home.

The court heard Casey had served prison sentences in the past for violence and had been ordered to go on a probation service rehabilitation course targeted at people who committed domestic violence.

He has been held in prison since his arrest following the text message.