A JILTED boyfriend rang his former partner two days before Christmas and left a voicemail message telling her: "When I see you I'm going to slit you."

At Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court, Michael Dale Buxton, 27, admitted leaving the woman threatening voicemail messages between December 23 last year and January 2 this year.

He was jailed for ten weeks.

Outlining the case against the defendant, who had addresses in both Carlisle and Workington, prosecutor Pam Ward said he was in a short relationship with his victim but they broke up in mid December last year.

After threatening to slice the woman, Buxton added: "I'm even going to leave my name on it."

Mrs Ward said: "The defendant has numerous convictions related to domestic violence against previous partners."

He had also repeatedly breached restraining orders, including one offence for which he was given a 27 month prison sentence. The victim in this case also wanted to be protected by a restraining order, said the prosecutor.

Emily Smith, for Buxton, formerly of Church Road, Harrington, Workingon, but now of Stonegarth, Morton, Carlisle, said the defendant had been deeply upset when he heard through a third party of a life-changing decision the woman had made which also affected him.

"He was extremely upset," said the lawyer.

She said Buxton was also affected by the alcohol he had consumed and left the message as a knee-jerk reaction.

He accepted that it was inevitable that the woman he threatened would be upset by what he had said. Miss Smith said the defendant also had his own mental health issues but he was determined to change his life.

A Probation Service officer who assessed Buxton told the court: "He desperately wants help to manage his relationships better and to address his attitudes towards women. And he understands that alcohol is a huge factor for him."

He had previously begun a Probation Service "Building Better Relationships" course but was unable to complete it because he was jailed.

The officer said Buxton had reduced his drinking but wanted to stop completely.

Magistrates said the voicemail threats had caused the victim substantial distress. There had been multiple threats and the defendant had a history of domestic violence.

They also imposed a two-year restraining order, which bans Buxton from contacting his victim for that period.

When he is released, he must pay a £115 victim surcharge, and £85 prosecution costs.