An abusive partner has been banned from returning to a Devon village after threatening to 'flame grill' his ex girlfriend.
Andrew Collins bombarded the terrified victim with texts and calls which included a message asking if she knew how to make a firebomb.
He has been banned from the village of North Molton under a restraining order which also forbids him going to a café where she works.
Collins, aged 48, formerly of North Molton but now living in Lancashire, admitted putting his former partner in fear of violence through harassment.
He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years and made the subject of a five year restraining order banning him from North Molton by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, at Exeter Crown Court on Friday.
The judge said he was taking into account that Collins has already spent more than three months in custody awaiting sentence.
He told him:"You pleaded guilty on the basis that you were drinking heavily and while in drink you made numerous abusive and threatening calls, including a threat to flame grill the victim. That is not a nice thing to say.
"You say you did not intend to carry out the threats but you obviously intended her to believe you did, or you would not have said them.
"This is a serious matter. It is the effect on her which is important rather than your intention. These threats continued even after you had been arrested and bailed.
"You state you are deeply ashamed and wish to apologise to the victim and now accept the relationship is over and have no intention of contacting her again.
"I bear that in mind in suspending the sentence, so you should think about that before you go behind those words. You will put yourself in prison if you do."
Mr Gareth Evans, prosecuting, said Collins was in a relationship with the woman for four years until January and began making the calls and texts in March.
She changed her mobile number but they carried on through her landline, where some were heard by her sister, who picked up the receiver at her home.
Mr Evans said:"The threats included him telling her he was going to flame grill her and abuse in which he called her a fat slag and accused her of sleeping with other men."
He said the victim's car was set alight at the time the calls were made but Collins has not been prosecuted in relation to the fire.
Mr Tom Bradnock, defending, urged the Judge to take into account Collins' guilty plea and the recommendations of a probation pre sentence report.
He said Collins has already spent time in custody as a result of breaching a bail condition to stay out of Devon and has no intention of contacting the victim again
