A JEALOUS ex threatened to kill his former partner by throwing her in a lake after she started a new relationship, a court has heard.

Stephen William Williams admitted making threats to kill, criminal damage and assault by beating when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford on December 2.

Prosecutor Ralph Robyns Landricombe said police were called by Williams' former partner, who said he had pulled up beside her car holding a baseball bat and threatening to kill her if she did not reveal who her new partner was, at 11.40pm on November 4.

The court heard Williams had grabbed her arm, pulling her towards a lake near her home and telling her he was going to throw her in to kill her.

But she managed to pull free and locked herself in the house before contacting police.

In interview, Williams said he had seen red and may have shouted. He admitted hitting the victim's car with a stick and pulling her out when she refused to get out of the car herself.

The 47-year-old also admitted saying he would put her in the water if he did not get answers and that he would "knock her partner's head off".

Belinda Ariss, for Williams, said it had been a huge shock when his former partner had left him in November 2019.

"She left without telling him, just leaving a note," Miss Ariss said.

"He had hoped they would reconcile and she told him she wanted time and space, so it was a shock to find out she had a new partner who was going to move in with her."

Miss Ariss said Williams, who admitted to sometimes being "a bit shouty", had been carrying an axe handle when he pulled the victim from her car.

"He was just angry and wanted to scare her," she said.

Williams, of Broxwood, Leominster, received a 24-month community order, an indefinite restraining order, and must pay compensation of £250. He must also pay costs of £185 and a £95 victim surcharge.