A former boxer who sent a Facebook message to a woman threatening to kill her after he was dumped by his latest partner, has narrowly avoided jail.

Wesley Hammell, from Medway, became aggressive and abusive towards the woman despite her doing nothing wrong after a drinking session.

The 45-year-old, who has a long history of violence and domestic violence convictions, sent the distressing message after his latest girlfriend finished their relationship.

It comes after a conviction in September last year for an assault on a woman and at the time, a court heard he drunkenly attacked a girlfriend at Sittingbourne Railway Station who vomited after a drinking session.

Instead of looking after her, Hammell, grabbed her around the throat and started shouting at her and then raised his fist “as if to hit her”.

The court heard from prosecutor James Mr Nichols who said: “The victim vomited and this angered him and he grabbed her round the neck and then raised his fist as if to hit her.

“He has a long history of violence and domestic violence convictions and is a professional boxer.”

A district judge heard his latest offence happened when he directed his anger at a woman after being dumped by his most recent girlfriend.

Hammell, of Meadow Bank Road, Chatham, was later charged with sending a communication threatening death and pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on September 24.

The court heard Hammell sent the Facebook messages on September 19.

At the time, Debbie Jones, prosecuting, said: “She started to receive messages, she got four and they were abusive and in it he said, ‘F*** you, I am going to kill you, you little s***.

“I am going to kill you. You will lose your life and I will lose my life, I don’t care. I have lost out by them wrong’uns, I am going to kill myself and take you with me’.”

Ms Jones also said the woman was petrified by Hammell’s threats and was frightened by the thought he would go to her home and that after she received the messages, she blocked Hammell on the social media forum.

She added: “He made admissions (during interview) and he has a previous non-molestation on him against someone else (a previous partner).”

District Judge Nelson decided he wanted a pre-sentencing report carried out on Hammell before he was sentenced and he returned to the same court to hear his fate on November 21.

During the hearing, prosecutor Lucy Fish, told magistrates the woman was worried she would bump into Hammell when she was out and had put up with his “often drunken abuse” for 10 years before they split.

She added: “The woman avoids certain areas when she’s out (in case she sees him) and that she got a more secure front door fitted to her home to feel safer.

“She wants a restraining order as she doesn’t want him near her or her home.”

Peter Fernando, defending, said his client was now seeking help from Alcoholics Anonymous for his drinking problem and was attending sessions twice a week.

Magistrates told him the offence passed the custody threshold, but they were prepared to suspend the term.

As a result, they jailed Hammell for 20 weeks but suspended the term for 24 months.

They also ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilitation sessions which will also involve completing a building better relationships course.

He was also ordered to wear an alcohol abstinence tag for nine months and pay a victim surcharge of £154 as well as £85 court cost.

Hammell was also made subject to a five-year restraining order which bans him from contacting the woman or going near her home.