A MAN recently released from prison threatened to "fire-bomb" his former partner's home in one of a series of chilling messages left on her answer machine.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael John Dunbar also told Rose Williams that he had tested HIV positive and threatened to "haunt" her for what she had done.

Clare Fanning, prosecuting, said shortly after receiving the messages Miss Williams had seen Dunbar in her garden in Darwen, and had been genuinely frightened.

"She told police that she was petrified of him and was constantly living in fear of what he was going to do next," said Miss Fanning.

Dunbar, 44, who has been living at the Carlisle probation hostel while on bail, pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence and was remanded on bail until November 13 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Miss Fanning said Miss Williams had ended the relationship in May and had not seen Dunbar until August.

During that time he had written to her from prison, but she had only replied once.

When he was released he rang several times and left messages which culminated in the threat to fire-bomb her home.

"In the light of these messages when she saw him outside her home one day at the beginning of August she was genuinely frightened," said Miss Fanning.

Dunbar left before the police arrived, but returned later and climbed into her back garden. Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Dunbar has a drink problem which he had been addressing during his eight weeks in the Carlisle hostel and had been offered a place at a rehabilitation unit in Crumpsall, Manchester.

"He is anxious to take up that place which will help him address the alcohol problem which is at the root of this offence and the break-up of the relationship," said Mr Church-Taylor.