Chesterfield magistrates were told last Wednesday that victim Wendy Frost was so upset by the threats from Roger Meades (36) she wanted to leave the district.

Prosecutor Sarah Haslam said the couple separated two-years-ago because of previous threats made by Meades.

On 28th February he turned up drunk outside her flat and offered to get her a fridge for £20 – but she didn't want the appliance and he became angry.

Ms Frost thought he had walked outside with her back door key and called police.

She then found the key and locked the door before receiving a phone call from Meades in which he threatened: "I'm going to kill you. You're dead – you're dead."

Mrs Haslam said police arrived and overheard Meades repeat the phone threat. He was arrested and later said he was very drunk at the time of the offence and did not know why he had threatened Ms Frost.

Meades, of Sherwood Street, admitted sending a threatening phone message and had previous convictions for two domestic assaults.

Presiding magistrate John Bargh jailed him for 15 weeks and said: "Threats to kill were made against a vulnerable victim who took them seriously – to the point of wanting to leave the area because she did not feel safe with you around."

In mitigation, Phil Bloore said: "He had 10 pints. It was drunken abuse, not a serious threat to kill."

He told the court Ms Frost resumed her relationship with Meades last November when she was without accommodation, but she ended it again three months later after finding somewhere else to live.

She had an unfurnished flat and he was trying to help her furnish it.

He found a fridge for sale and called to see her about it after being unable to contact her by phone.

"She told him she had spent the night with another man," said Mr Bloore. "This upset him."

Meades walked to a club across the road from her home and she phoned him and accused him of taking her door keys.