A MAN made threats to kill his brother and his ex-partner and slash her children's throats after discovering flirtatious texts on his phone.

Blackburn magistrates heard Kallum Reece Barlow made the telephone threats after a heavy drinking session.

And he told the court he had no intention of carrying out the threats.

"I haven't spoken to him since but he is still my brother and I wouldn't hurt him," he said.

"I wouldn't have stabbed him or my ex, she is the mother of my child."

Barlow, 21, of Cemetery Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to sending menacing messages via a public communications network.

He was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months, made subject to a community order for 18 months with 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement. He was made subject to a restraining order for two years which prohibits him from having contact with his ex-partner.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Barlow called his ex-partner at 12.10am and said he had seen messages between her and his brother.

"She tried to calm him down but he was saying things about stabbing her and his brother and slashing her children's throats in front of her," said Mrs Yates.

"He kept saying he was going to stab his brother Craig and she had never heard him talk like that before. She was extremely worried that he would stab his brother and then come and find her and her children."

Barlow then called the police and repeated the threats.

When officers arrived at his home he had a knife in his hand which he put down when he was told to.

Barlow told a probation officer, who provided a pre-sentence report, he had been out drinking with his brother and when they got home his brother fell asleep.

His phone lit up with a message which was from his ex-partner.

He opened up the phone and read messages between the two which were flirty.

Barlow told the court he knew he shouldn't have said what he did.

"I didn't think my own brother would stab me in the back.

"Anyone else I wouldn't have bothered," he said.