An Oakes man threw a plate of food over his estranged wife and threatened to stab her in the neck with the cutlery, a court heard.

Lee Quashie also spat at and smacked the mother of his two children during the attack in her bedroom.

The provisional licence holder later stole her car and threatened to kill her in a frightening phone call.

Quashie, of Westfield Avenue, appeared before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court in custody.

He was convicted in his absence during a trial earlier this week of offences of assault, taking a vehicle without consent and sending a malicious communication.

The 38-year-old had admitted to a charge of using threatening behaviour.

The court heard that on November 9 he had gone to the Newsome home of Claire Quashie to see their children. She was in the bedroom and Quashie went in while carrying a plate of food.

He lost his temper after some phone messages, prosecutor Jill Seddon said.

She told the court: “He throws the food and cutlery over her, then picks up the cutlery and makes a threat. The defendant says: “Do you want me to stab you in the neck?”

Quashie then smacked his wife’s left cheek, giving her a bloodshot eye.

He left the house in a Ford Focus belonging to Mrs Quashie after grabbing the keys to it from a kitchen work top.

Quashie, who only held a provisional licence, returned the car the following day and posted the keys through the letterbox.

On November 22 he called the family home, speaking first to one of the children before the phone was passed over to his wife.

Mrs Seddon said: “there was an argument about how they were going to make arrangements for him to see the children.

“He says to her: ‘You’d better watch your back. I’ll be round the corner - I’m going to f*****g kill you’.”

Mrs Quashie recorded the phone call and police were informed.

The court was also told of another incident on December 9 in Huddersfield town centre. Mrs Quashie was driving along Westgate and had stopped at some traffic lights when she was approached by Quashie. He tried to open the door before punching the passenger side window, leaving her feeling frightened.

District Judge Parkash Aujla sentenced Quashie to a 20-week jail term, suspended for 18 months.

He must complete 40 days of rehabilitative activities as part of a community order.

Quashie must pay £620 costs and £80 victim surcharge. Judge Aujla also made a two-year restraining order banning Quashie from contacting his ex .