A man who made threats to kill his wife at the tail-end of their “toxic” relationship was sentenced to eight weeks in prison but will not return there after serving four months on remand.

Jon Abbott, of Rosehill Avenue, Burnley, was charged with six counts which included an allegation of strangulation and threat with an offensive weapon. He also pleaded guilty to Section 4 harassment.

Abbott and his wife had been married for six years but by this point the marriage was failing.

On Saturday, October 22, the couple went for a meal at the Indian Harvest restaurant in Crawshawbooth and fell out over paying for the bill.

Upon their return home, his wife was holding a phone which Abbott snatched out of her hand and threw across the room. He then pushed himself against her and shouted a threat to kill her.

The second incident occurred when his wife returned home from the gym on October 24 and saw that Abbott was in a “bad mood.” He cornered her in the kitchen and again threatened to kill her.

A summary of a statement from his wife read to Burnley Crown Court said she “feared” making Abbott angry and she was always “walking on eggshells”. She also indicated the marriage had had a negative effect on her mental health.

Mitigating, Joseph Allman said Abbott’s former wife has a good impression of him, with no violence or threats during their relationship.

Sentencing, Judge Sara Dodd said: “I have to deal with you for an offence of harassment. You accept you behaved unlawfully to your wife.

“On two occasions your conduct crossed that of criminal behaviour. I accept the circumstances you found yourselves in were that your marriage had failed and the atmosphere in your home appeared to be toxic.

“But you raised your hands to your wife and threatened to kill her on two occasions.

“You are subject to a football banning order for very unpleasant behaviour but other than that you are a man of good character. Your family and former wife speak very highly of you.”

Judge Dodd gave Abbott an eight-week sentence, but he will not serve more time in prison having served 105 days on remand.