A man has been given a suspended jail sentence after he breached a restraining order by sending threatening texts to his former partner in Huddersfield.

Ryan Turpin was already the subject of a two-year community order for previous offences against Danielle Brennan at the time he sent her a message saying he would “stab her to death.”

Michael Smith prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court Turpin from Berry Brow caused her particular concern because he told her in the text if their children woke up he would stab them as well.

The couple had an on-off relationship over 15 years but worried about Turpin’s drinking Miss Brennan had finished it by Christmas last year saying when sober he was a nice person but in drink was “horrible.”

He said Miss Brennan replied to the message calling Turpin “sick.” Over the weekend of March 27-29 he sent more texts terrorising her saying what he would do would be regarded as a “crime of passion.”

When she told him she would contact the police he said he was not bothered about being sent to prison and threatened to bang her head on the wall where she worked.

When he discovered she had deleted him from her Facebook he sent her a video showing him outside her address in Huddersfield with a brick in his hand. She was not at home but took it as a threat of damage and contacted the police.

When he was arrested he said he had mental-health issues and had come off his medication and said he could not remember the texts because he had been drinking and “acting like a ****head.”

The court heard Turpin had 31 previous convictions for 49 offences. In January last year he was given a two-year community order for threatening to damage property and breaching a restraining order by threatening to burn down Miss Brennan’s home.

Following further offences in July he was given another community order after the court was told on his behalf that four weeks on remand had given him the opportunity to dry out and also to receive medication for his paranoia and depression. He knew the offences were down to alcohol and wanted now to engage with the programmes offered to him.

Peter Byrne representing Turpin said he blamed his latest offences on drinking but having spent around six weeks on remand in custody had now accepted the relationship was finally over.

He said Miss Brennan was moving and he had no need to be in touch with her since contact with their children was arranged through his own mother.

Turpin, 28 of Bishops Court, Berry Brow, admitted harassment and breach of restraining order and was sentenced to 36 weeks in prison suspended for two years with a six month alcohol treatment requirement and a 30-day activity requirement.

Recorder Peter Babb said one could only imagine the effect of the threatening text messages on Miss Brennan.

“It was a horrendous situation for her which no doubt in your more sober moments you have had time to reflect on,” he said.

Turpin interrupted to say over a video link from prison he was ashamed and the Recorder told him he hoped reports were correct that he had now turned a corner and was taking advantage of the help offered to him to stop drinking.