A MAN texted his ex-partner and said he was going to kill her and he hoped her unborn child would die.

Michael William Knight, of East Cowes Road, Whippingham, admitted sending a communication threatening death or serious harm, to a woman — recklessly conveying a threat of death — on February 20.

He appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Friday, April 19.

Following the end of a four-month relationship, on the grounds Knight had been trying to control her, he sent her a threatening text message, said David Logan-Rose, prosecuting.

His partner was pregnant at the time.

Knight wrote in a text to her, "I will kill you" — and hoped her unborn child would die, the court was also told. 

The victim was scared and believed Knight was capable of carrying out the threat, the prosecutor added.

For Knight, Oscar Vincent said his client was incensed after learning his ex-partner has embarked on a new relationship.

"He was angry and upset and sent the text recklessly, in the heat of the moment," explained Mr Vincent.

"When he was shown the message, he conceded there was no excuse for it. He had no intention of hurting her."

By committing the offences, Knight flouted an 18-month probation order handed to him in July last year for offences against another ex-partner.

In May last year, Knight admitted assaulting her by beating, causing criminal damage, taking a motor vehicle without consent and making threats to destroy property, namely her car, by torching it.

During the assault, Knight threw one of her own shoes at her and shoved two fingers in her mouth, “fish-hooking her”.

He also breached the probation order in December and had his unpaid work punishment increased to 130 hours. 

Knight has still to complete the rehabilitation activity requirement sessions of his probation order, but had completed the unpaid work and drug rehabilitation elements of it, argued Mr Vincent, in mitigation.

Magistrates ordered a report on Knight and bailed him to reappear for sentencing at the same venue on May 31.