A Gateshead man threatened to kill his ex-partner in front of their children during a horror 999 call recorded by emergency operators.
Martin Bertram, 32, shouted “I’ll f****** kill you” as the woman frantically gripped the phone – and as he held a knife.
He then flung the blade which hit her as she cowered in a foetal position on the floor of his home in Priory Court, Gateshead, a court was told.
In another part of the exchange, she could be heard pleading, “Please don’t get a knife, Michael”.
South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard he was threatening to self-harm when he picked up the blade on Saturday, September 26.
Bertram, who had never previously threatened violence during their relationship, pleaded guilty to making threats to kill and assault.
Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said the offence had a starting point of two years in jail.
She added: “The complainant has provided a detailed statement. She is the ex-partner of the defendant and they have two children together.
“She had taken the children to his house. He began shouting and screaming and he is described as being in a complete rage.
“The defendant then goes and picks up a knife and makes the threats.
“He says he’s going to kill the complainant, but she manages to call 999 at the same time.
“She can be heard saying, ‘Please don’t get a knife, Michael’. He can be heard saying, ‘I’ll f****** kill you’.
“What you can hear is the two children crying. She describes being in the foetal position on the floor.
“The knife was thrown, and it actually makes contact with her. That is the battery offence.
“It’s a serious offence. Making threats to kill with a weapon – the starting point is two years.”
John Williams, defending, said: “The complainant says the defendant initially had a knife because he was threatening to kill himself.
“There was no injury caused whatsoever, and he doesn’t accept that the children were present when he made the threats.
“I think that her statement says that she was worried for the children, but also for the defendant.
“She did not believe he would carry out the threats.
“This was an isolated incident during their relationship, there’s been nothing like it before or since.”
Magistrates requested a pre-sentence report and committed Bertram to Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced on May 26.
He was granted unconditional bail.
