A MAN turned up at the home of his estranged wife making threats, while carrying a realistic-looking imitation handgun, a court heard.

Reece Andrew Scott was jailed for 18 months after Durham Crown Court was told the confrontation was the culmination of a campaign of threats and harassment committed by him arising from their separation.

Ian West, prosecuting, said the marriage breakdown was triggered by an incident of damage and harassment for which Scott was cautioned, in late August.

Mr West said that on the morning of September 20, Scott sent her a series of messages indicating he wanted their relationship to resume, but as they went on, “the tone suddenly changed and became unpleasant”.

He threatened to cut off her tongue, adding: “Don’t worry, we’ll be paying you a visit, so keep your eyes peeled.”

Mr West said at 2.30pm, Scott pulled up in his car outside her home, in County Durham.

As the pregnant woman look on from upstairs, he approached the house and she told him, through a bedroom window, to go away.

Scott went back to the car, concealing something in the back of his trousers.

He warned her to open the door, before taking out what she thought was a gun from his waistband, and pulled back the barrel back, as if making it ready to fire.

Mr West said although Scott did not point it in her direction, he walked to the front door and she believed he was going to shoot her pet dog.

The woman called out to him and he then walked back to his car, putting the gun in the passenger door pocket, before leaving the scene.

Following his departure, Scott sent her further abusive messages, before apologising and telling her he would leave her alone.

The court was read a victim statement in which the woman spoke of her “devastation” at events that day.

Scott, 23, of Primrose Crescent, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause a fear of violence, threats to kill and putting a person in fear of violence through harassment.

Tony Davis, mitigating, said Scott, who suffers ADHD, was undergoing, “an emotional meltdown”, following the marriage break-up.

Mr Davis added it has resulted in his first taste of life behind bars.

Jailing him, Judge Simon Hickey also made Scott subject to a ten-year restraining order prohibiting him trying to contact or approach his estranged wife.