A man who sent text messages to his former girlfriend threatening to kill her, shoot her, and bomb her home was now a different man altogether, his solicitor told Truro magistrates.

Before them was Liam Williams, age 24, of Carvolth, Praze, who pleaded guilty to sending a message which was “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character”, at Camborne on November 10, and to possessing 52 grams of cannabis worth £180.

Alison May, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the drug offences came to light when an unrelated matter was being investigated at his home and he told police: “I have got a bit of weed on me”. Other drugs were found in his bedroom.

The other offence followed the breakdown of a relationship with a woman, and because of difficulties resulting from that he sent her a number of text messages.

Williams, who had a previous conviction for affray in 2011, had a drug problem said defence solicitor Fred Mr Howell and mental health problems. But after receiving some treatment his behaviour had improved.

“He is not the same man he was at the time of these offences,” he said.

The case was adjourned to February 12 for further reports.

A condition of bail was not to contact his former girlfriend.