A suspended sentence has been handed to a man who threatened to kill himself and his children after his partner tried to break-up with him, a court has heard.

Nathan Grant was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday (September 10) for one count each of possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place, criminal damage, and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate/family relationship.

The 35-year-old, who was in a relationship with Kezia Wilkins, pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on July 29 to all counts after stabbing his girlfriend’s car tyre when she tried to drive away from the home following an attempted break-up.

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She wanted to split with Grant, of The Elms, Wantage, after he displayed controlling behaviour between July 1 and July 28 this year, such as constantly checking her phone and asking where she was.

Grant threatened to take his life, hers and their children's lives when she expressed wanting to split.

Sentencing him to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, Recorder Joseph Hart said: “Your conduct was calculated to maximise fear.

“You threatened to harm yourself, you threatened to harm your family, you threatened to harm her. You were consumed by jealous rage.

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“You lost control of yourself. You must have terrified your children. You broke your home and made your relationship with your partner even more unrecoverable.

"This was a serious offence.”

During sentencing, it was heard that on July 27, Ms Wilkins, a care assistant, had asked Grant to break up after he had displayed controlling behaviour.

This started an argument in which Grant threatened his life whilst holding a hammer, also threatening to smash her car windows.

Ms Wilkins said she didn’t believe he would kill anyone, the court heard.

When she tried to leave in her car, Grant then stabbed her passenger front tyre but didn’t succeed in deflating it.

Grant was unrepresented in court but Recorder Hart took into account the pre-sentence report written by probation about the defendant.

In the report, Grant states he is ‘ashamed and sorry’ about what happened and wants to work on being a better father for his children.

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The defendant also had a number of family members in court supporting him during the sentencing, including the victim who did not provide an impact statement.

A cheer sounded when Grant, who has no relevant previous convictions, was handed a suspended sentence.

He was also ordered to complete 30 sessions of an accredited programme, six months of mental health treatment and five rehabilitation activity days.