Text messages a Helston man sent to his former partner after their break-up included: “I’ll kill you all”, “You are the worst in the world” and a warning to “watch out”.

At Truro Magistrates’ Court, Darren Ireland, aged 32, of Trenear, Helston, pleaded guilty to sending harassing and threatening messages in breach of a court non-molestation order.

Alison May, for the CPS, said he had been in a relationship with Natalie Davies for about six years, but it had ended in March when she left with their four-year-old child to live in a refuge.

Then she started receiving text messages from Ireland saying he knew where she was living and he was coming to get the child.

In one of ten messages, he threatened: “I am taking it to extreme levels now, so watch out.”

Ms Davies and her family members, who had also been threatened in the messages, had felt intimidated, harassed and distressed by what he said.

Ireland, who had no previous convictions, had nothing to say in court and the case was adjourned for a probation report to June 3.