A JEALOUS man told his ex-girlfriend he was going to “kill her, gas her and burn her”.

Craig David Brock made the threats in a six-week period of harassment, which also involved him telling the victim’s manager that he would trap her in a car and poison her with carbon monoxide.

The 31-year-old accused the woman of cheating on him when they were together and this led to altercations of a potential violent nature, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

Brock pleaded guilty to charges of harassment putting a woman in fear of violence and assault by beating at Poole Magistrates’ Court in March.

Judge Robert Pawson decided to take a “relatively unusual course” and impose a suspended sentence at a hearing on May 9.

Brock, of Lagland Street, Poole, assaulted the woman on January 1 after she had visited where he was living in Verwood at the time.

The court heard as she tried to leave the room the two of them were in the defendant grabbed her hair and prevented her from getting away.

Prosecuting, Leigh Hart said Brock told the victim “where the **** are you going, I am trying to talk to you”.

The harassment, which took the form of repeated messages and multiple calls, took place between January 12 and February 25 after the relationship had ended.

Ms Hart said he did this despite the victim saying she did not want to with with him.

The court heard the offender made contact with the woman’s manager at work with various claims about her.

The prosecutor said he also said he would trap her inside a car and put a pipe through the window from the exhaust.

Ms Hart said the defendant’s threats included the words: “Carbon monoxide poisoning I swear. I am going to go savage on her.”

In a statement to police the woman said she felt like she could not sleep in her own home.

“She had dreams that she was going to be petrol bombed through her letter box,” Ms Hart said.

The court heard she had considered moving home and she had increased security at her address.

Richard Martin, mitigating, said the probation service had compiled a “very full” pre-sentence report.

He said this showed a “very clear insight” and his commitment to change.

Judge Pawson said the defendant presented as “quite an intelligent young man” despite his “pretty sorry record” of nine convictions of 30 offences.

There was “quite a lot” to suggest Brock should go straight to prison but having read the pre-sentence report “it does appear that there is real potential for you to be rehabilitated”.

“If you do not take the opportunity you will go to prison,” said Judge Pawson. I do not mean that as a threat, but it is true.”

The judge handed the defendant an eight-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, with requirements to carry out 130 hours of unpaid work, up to 30 rehabilitation activity days and a Building Better Relationships programme.

Brock, who also received a seven-year restraining order, told the judge that he fully understood the chance he had been given.