A man from Lower Gornal has avoided jail after threatening to cut his former partner’s throat with a breadknife.

James Hawkins, who’d been drinking heavily, smashed open the bathroom door at the home he shared with Rachel Wild before before pointing the blade in her direction and threatening her.

However, he was spared a prison sentence after Rachel told Wolverhampton Crown Court that although she felt his actions were unacceptable, she did not want him to go to jail for the sake of their two children.

34 year-old Hawkins, of Duke Street, admitted making a threat to kill, damaging property and driving while over the alcohol limit. He was given a 20 month jail term, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for three years.