A thug who threatened his ex-partner with a hammer while delivering a torrent of vile abuse has narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Anthony Maddison turned up at his ex-partner’s home in the middle of the night demanding she return the charger for his mobile phone.

After she threw it to him out of a window, he pulled a hammer out of his jacket before threatening to 'f*** her over’, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 38-year-old then damaged her garden gate when he slammed it in a rage after she refused to reignite their relationship.

Ian West, prosecuting, said: “He responded to her – ‘see this hammer, see this f****** hammer, I told you if you f*** me over, I will f*** you over’ before leaving.

“About 20 minutes later she saw him return to her house, she could see this on her CCTV at the front of the house before he went down the side where her CCTV didn’t cover.

“There was no confrontation at that point.”

In a victim impact statement, the mother-of-two said Maddison’s violent reaction had resulted in her being forced to move home and disrupt her family life.

The court heard how Maddison became angry when he read some messages on her mobile phone that he didn’t approve of.

Maddison, of Stakesby House, Guisborough, pleaded guilty to stalking and criminal damage following his behaviour in June this year.

Andrew Turton, mitigating, said his client had struggled with drug and alcohol issues for a number of years.

He added: “The relationship had broken down and the defendant struggled with his emotional behaviour when he is upset. Clearly, he is someone who has concern, if not paranoia, about domestic situations where he believes there is infidelity.”

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year! Get a full year of the Northern Echo for only £25 or try 6 months for just £6. Click here for details.

Judge Richard Bennett told Maddison he was prepared to suspend his sentence but warned him he would be jailed if he offended again in the next 18 months.

He added: “You were in a relationship for six months which ended in April this year that relationship was fairly toxic.”

As well as the 21-month sentence suspended for 18 months, he was ordered to take part in 30 sessions to address domestic abuse situations, attend 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days, take part in a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement order and carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Maddison was also issued with a five-year restraining order.