A DEPRESSED dad bombarded his ex-partner with phone calls and threatened to kill her and then himself.

Burnley Magistrates heard how drunken David Stephen Kemp, 28, said he would slit Amanda Southward's mother's throat, arrange for somebody to beat up her friend and that he had sold the three piece suite and bought a gun.

Kemp, of Rakeshouse Road, Nelson, admitted harassment and was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order.

The magistrates said the defendant had shown no regard for his baby daughter when he was verbally abusing Miss Southward. They added they were not making a restraining order as the couple were going to live together again so it would be impossible.

Julie Reddish, prosecuting, said the victim and the defendant split up due to problems in their relationship. They had lived together for two and a half years and had an 18-month-old daughter.

Kemp made phone calls to Miss Southward, sometimes five or six a night, which at first would be pleasant, asking about seeing the child, but then the defendant would become aggressive.

He made threats to his former partner and her family and said he was going to get a gun and kill both her and then himself.

Miss Reddish said Kemp later turned up at Miss Southward's home, refused to leave, made threats and police came and arrested him. He was asked what he had done with the money from a three piece suite and Kemp said he had bought a gun.

Glen Smith, defending, said the relationship was enduring but had not been without its problems.

Kemp and Miss Southward intended to continue to try and mend their relationship and to live together.

Mr Smith said the defendant tended to minimise what happened, but had been concerned about not being allowed contact with his child. He thought attempts were being made to stop him seeing the infant.

Kemp, whose outbursts were emotional and inappropriate, was being treated for depression and was on incapacity benefits.