A 31-year-old man has been given a conditional discharge after sending threatening messages to his ex partner.

Michael Thomas Beedie pleaded guilty to a misuse of telecommunications offence and was also ordered by magistrates to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that police were called by Beedie’s former partner on August 31.

She said that he had been harassing her for around a year and regularly sent her messages on social media, including threats to her and her new partner.

The woman said she had blocked him but he would then use third parties to contact her.

Messages were shown to police which said: ’You and your fella wanna watch out. I’m gonna rip your insides out. You and your new family are dead.’

She said that she had tried to keep things civil.

When interviewed by police Beedie, who lives on Woodbourne Drive in Douglas, made counter accusations about threatening messages sent to him by the woman but then refused to allow police access to his phone to investigate that further.

Beedie claimed that his messages were a reaction to the woman’s messages and that her male friend had threatened to break his legs.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said: ’As you have heard, both parties appear to be engaged in a relationship that is not very good for either of them. There is an element of tit for tat.’

Mr Taylor said that Beedie had been offered a caution at the police station but had felt aggrieved that the woman was not being dealt with too.

He continued: ’We can only ask that the court show him some mercy. If any messages are sent to him he can report them to the police rather than responding in kind.’

Magistrates gave Beedie until January 31 to pay the prosecution costs.