A site manager at "crisis point" threatened to drive himself and his ex-partner off Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Duncan Valle was very upset after the relationship split and after following his ex he slapped her and made her get into his car, Bristol Crown Court heard.
As he drove he told her: "I'm going to drive off the suspension bridge. I'm going to kill us both."
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The court heard she managed to call police for help just before her phone battery died.
Valle, 37, of Chapel Barton in Bedminster, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and battery after the incident in October last year.
Judge William Hart handed him a two-year community order with a Building Better Relationships Programme and rehabilitation.
He told Valle in court today (Thursday, January 13): "If you comply you won't go to prison.
"If you don't comply or commit other offences you will.
"This is your one and only chance to make amends for what you did."
The judge banned Valle from driving for 12 months and ordered him to take an extended driving test.
Julian Howells, prosecuting, said Valle and his partner had split up when she had a night out and Valle pursued her.
Mr Howells told the court Valle then challenged her about her personal life before slapping and punching her and persuading her to get into his Mercedes.
As he drove off he threatened to drive off the suspension bridge and she believed he was under the influence of drink or drugs, the court heard.
Though she managed to call police at 5.15am, saying Valle was trying to kill them, her phone battery died.
Mr Howells said on the suspension bridge Valle got out of the car, carrying a bottle of whisky, and climbed fencing.
The woman managed to escape, police arrived and Valle drove off.
In a police pursuit that followed Valle jumped red traffic lights and was clocked at speeds of up to 90mph.
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A police attempt to stop him failed before he stopped in Brunel Way and police boxed him in.
When interviewed Valle told officers: "I smoked them, then stopped."
Lucy Taylor, defending, said the incident followed a relationship breakdown.
She said: "He was very upset.
"He was not in his right mind.
"He was at crisis point.
"He was using cocaine and abusing alcohol around that time."
Miss Taylor said her client's father had passed away 18 months before the incident, which had prompted his drug and alcohol use.
The court heard he has since undergone rehab, was not using drugs or alcohol and had returned to work.
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