Knifeman's threat to kill his ex-partner

Leagh Carew, 27, of no fixed address, went to his girlfriend - and mother of his nine-month old baby - Nicole Hadley's address in Devonshire Road, Bexhill, on Saturday at 5am, Hastings Magistrates Court was told.

Alison May, prosecuting, said: "Miss Hadley heard two loud bangs and her mother say, 'what are you doing?'

"She asked her nine year-old child to call the police.

"Carew was shouting that he wanted his son. He came charging into her bedroom.

"He shouted, 'I'm going to smash you in.'

"He pulled out a large knife.

"He was shouting, 'I'll kill you, the only person I care about is my son.'

"He continued to shout threats to her while she tried to calm him down and offered to go outside for a cigarette with him.

"He went outside her room and started pacing up and down the hallway, shouting, 'I'll take any man on, I'll kill you, I'll kill myself.'

"Both women were very frightened by what was going on.

"He shouted, call the police and I'll burn the house down. He headbutted a picture breaking the glass.

"Miss Hadley then heard people downstairs, and it was the police arriving.

"She was very frightened and had to be persuaded out of her room by police.

"She is fearful. She feels like she is just waiting for him to turn up and kill her."

Ronan Crummy, representing Carew, offered no mitigation.

Carew was remanded in custody for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on a date to be arranged.