A MAN threatened to kill his former partner as she held their three-week-old baby in her arms.

Matthew Leonard forced his way into his ex-girlfriend's home in Westhoughton and told her: "If you phone the police and get me locked up I won't be in prison forever. I'll track you down and kill you."

At Bolton Crown Court 29-year-old Leonard was jailed for 14 months after admitting making threats to kill.

Judge Richard Gioserano heard that Leonard has a lengthy criminal record, including for offences of violence.

Nicholas Flanagan, prosecuting, told how Leonard's relationship with his partner ended and she gave birth to their child in September.

On October 1 she was outside her home having a cigarette when she heard a noise coming from the property and found Leonard forcing the door open.

When he demanded see the baby, she picked the child up, fearing he wanted to take the three-week-old away.

And when she picked up her phone to call police he threatened to kill her.

Leonard, of Tavistock Road, Bolton, pulled a screwdriver from his pocket and held it to her face. He was arrested a short time later.

"She was worried about the baby as well as herself," said Mr Flanagan.

"She described the defendant as angry and unpredictable."

Nicolas Ross, defending, said Leonard had only intended going to the property to collect his possessions.

"He was in a state of heightened emotion," said Mr Ross. "It spilled over into unwise and impulsive comments which the defendant very much regrets."

He stressed that Leonard had not used violence and had left after making the comments.

A probation report stated that Leonard poses a high risk of harm to his partners, despite work previously done with him to try and alter his behaviour.

"You have, quite clearly, failed to put into practice any learning at all," Judge Gioserano told him. A restraining order was made banning him from contacting his victim or going within 200 metres of her home.