JAILED: Man who threatened to 'put a bullet' through ex's head

Daniel Burgess turned up at his ex-partner's house in Rugeley and delivered the threatening messages in a phone call recorded by police, Stafford Crown Court heard.

He had previously sent the woman mobile phone photos of him holding an imitation black pistol after she had finished their relationship, the court was told.

Mr Michael Grey, prosecuting, said armed officers then stopped the defendant's BMW outside the Ash Tree Inn and on the driver's seat was a imitation firearm.

Mr Grey said when Burgess, 25, of St Thomas Way, called his ex-partner she was already at Cannock police station.

He said: "He was ranting and raving, making various threats to 'put a bullet through her head' and 'blow up her house'."

Burgess admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a separate offence of assaulting his ex-partner by beating.

Judge Mark Eades told him: "You have a track record of harming your partners, you know the score, and this case is a repetition.

"You began by assaulting your ex partner.

"If matters had ended there it would not have been the most serious offence - serious though it is - but it didn't.

"You acquired a ball-bearing gun which looks like a real gun, you sent as series of photos and threats, including threats to kill her.

"Anyone who produces a firearm, even an imitation, in that sort of situation to terrify an ex partner with threats to kill and maim can expect an immediate custodial sentence of some length."

The gun, a Taiwanese-made pistol discharging 177 ball bearings via a gas capsule could cause eye injuries and puncture the skin, but firearms experts ruled it was an imitation firearm.

After his arrest, Burgess told police he was still in love with Miss Aspley and felt destroyed when the relationship broke up.

Mr Grey said the couple's three year relationship turned violent on January 17 this year when he received a text message and she, being suspicious grabbed the phone.

He stopped her leaving the bedroom, put his hands round her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe.

By March they had got back together, but she decided the relationship should end. The photos and threats were sent to her on March 6.

The court heard Burgess had several previous convictions for violence and had served three custodial sentences.

Mr Richard Bannister, defending, said Burgess had lost his job as a mechanical fitter and lost his relationship with his child as a result of these offences.

He said: "There is some remorse and insight in to his behaviour and the last five months in custody have enabled him to reflect."