'I want to slit your throat': Father threatened to kill ex while children in the house

James Hawkins, of Lower Gornal, smashed open a bathroom door at the Dudley home of Rachel While grasping a bread knife and then told her that he wanted to slit her throat.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told the pair's two children, aged one and four, were in the home when the attack took place on December 15.

Ms While – who has been in an on and off relationship with Hawkins for five years – phoned the police and he left. Officers searched for the 34 year old and found him drunk behind the wheel of his car.

Hawkins was given a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and told to pay £150 in compensation to his victim. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Recorder Justin Widoger, passing sentence, said: "This was an utterly disgraceful piece of behaviour.

"You threatened your former partner with a knife and told her that you would kill her.

"She didn't believe you, but quite what impact that had on your four-year-old child, who was aware what was going on in the house, nobody will know for quite a long time.

"There is no doubt at all that children get very badly affected indeed by seeing violence among their parents," he said.

Mr Charles Crinion, prosecuting, said Hawkins and Ms While had met by chance on the morning of the attack in Dudley High Street.

There was an argument which culminated in Hawkins swearing at her and Ms While decided to return home.

But her ex-partner turned up at her home later on as she was going to have a bath.

Mr Crinion, said: "She says that he came up to the bathroom and flung open the door, breaking the lock and causing damage to it.

"She stepped out of the bath and grabbed her dressing gown and saw that he had a bread knife in his left hand.

"He held it towards her and said 'I want to slit your throat.'"

The court heard Ms While did not believe he would use the knife to harm her, but thought he was using it to scare her.

She reached for the mobile phone which was in her gown and said she was calling the police.

Mr Crinion said that at that point Hawkins threatened to harm Ms While's older children from a previous relationship.

Hawkins left the home and was found later by police in his car and he was arrested.

He admitted being drunk and threatening Ms While and later formally pleaded guilty to counts of making a threat to kill, of drink driving and of damaging property.

Hawkins, of Duke Street, was spared immediate jail time following the pleas of Ms While who said her children were missing their father.