A MAN accused of threatening to kill his ex-partner after their relationship ended has denied sending menacing messages and harassment.

Lee Parish, 39, of Vimy Crescent, Bulford, had been in a relationship with Ria Clarke for 15 years. The pair, who have two sons together, split up in May. On June 23, various voicemails were left, allegedly threatening violence towards Ms Clarke.

Judge Simon Cooper described some as “pleading messages of misplaced devotion and love”.

But it was alleged that others were more threatening, including one which it is claimed said: “I will come and put a bullet straight through your head”.

Judge Cooper noted that Parish admitted having left the messages.

Matthew George, defending, said he had spent 40 minutes with he defendant, discussing his intended plea, but Parish maintained his innocence, adding: “I was so drunk and upset, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Judge Cooper added: “I’m not allowed to call a defendant in these circumstances an idiot, so I won’t.”

Prosecutor Vyvyan Thatcher said the crown had been expecting a guilty plea “given the overwhelming state of the evidence”.

A trial date was set for October 19 at Chippenham Magistrates Court.