A STAND-UP comedian turned nasty after his wife left him, terrorising her and a neighbour, a court heard.

Alan Jillings made telephone calls to his wife, Susan, threatening to kill her.

The 52-year-old, of The Street, Boxley, near Masidstone, was jailed for 14 months, but was released soon afterwards because of time spent on remand.

A judge at Maidstone Crown Court showed leniency after Mrs Jillings wrote to the court saying she believed her husband had been punished enough and would stop harassing her.

Jillings admitted putting people in fear of violence and making threats to kill.

The court heard that the couple had been together for 25 years. But in March this year she said she needed a break and went to stay with her sister.

Lucy Luttman, prosecuting, said when Mrs Jillings told him she was not returning, he warned: “You’ll pay for leaving me..."

Mrs Jillings moved to her daughter’s home. Further abusive and threatening telephone calls and messages followed.

Jillings was issued with a formal warning under the Harassment Act.

But on May 8 he telephoned his wife, told her he had an axe and threatened to split her head. Later he said he would “kill her".

He was arrested but after he was released on bail he left more messages on his wife’s phone.

Miss Luttman said Jillings also waged a campaign against a neighbour. He tried to climb over his garden wall, demanding: “Tell me where my wife is, or I’ll shoot you.”

When arrested, Jillings admitted threatening his neighbour with an axe.

Judge Jeremy Carey was told in the letter from Mrs Jillings that she believed the relationship was irretrievable.

Ged O’Connor, defending, said the case reflected a man reacting in the most inappropriate way possible to the breakdown of a long relationship.

“There are a large number of character references and they all speak very highly of him and of all the work he has done in the community,” he said. “He was an upstanding member of the community.”

As a popular stand-up comic, he had carried out a great deal of charitable work. “He has gone from a successful life, entertaining hundreds, bringing up a family, to life in a cell," added Mr O’Connor.