A Hampshire man has been jailed for more than two-and-a-half years for threatening to kill a teenager and her unborn child.

Steven John Bird, 26, of Brahms Road, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a pregnant 17-year-old girl, as well as pleading guilty to assault and causing criminal damage.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court, the court heard how Bird had threatened the girl by saying he would “slit your throat and rip that baby out”.

Dawn Hyland, proscuting, told the ceourt that Bird had been talking with the victim and her partner on May 13 when he suddenly became violent.

In a statement from the girl’s partner, read by Miss Hyland, it said: “We were in the garden and he was showing off a new machete and he was offering me some vodka.”

The court heard how Bird appeared to take offence to something the teenager had said and shouted: “Shut up or I will slit your throat and rip that baby out of you.”

Miss Hyland added: “He then grabbed her by the neck and nicked the back of her neck with the machete.”

The court heard how others who were present at the time attempted to calm Bird down, while the girl he was threatening ran into a bedroom upstairs, but the 26-year-old began hitting the door and ended up making a large hole in it.

Miss Hyland added: “When the hole was big enough he put his head through and yelled ‘your blood will be on my hands when I kill’.”

A statement from victim, read to the court, said: “This incident has made me feel very scared and I am really worried of the effects this could have on my unborn child.

“If he would have got through, I believe he would have killed me.”

The court heard how Bird has been in and out of jail since 2010.

Defending, Pieter Briegel, said: “He said that he is sorry and ashamed of what happened, and this is going to help an immature man grow up.

“He needs to learn that society will not tolerate this bullying behaviour.”

In sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler CBE said: “It is clear this was a very frightening incident for all those involved.

“I am pleased to hear that you realise this behaviour cannot go on.”

Bird was sentenced to 32 months in prison for threatening to kill, two months for assaulting another person and one month for causing criminal damage, which will run concurrently.

A restraining order will also be put in place for a maximum of five years.