A TEENAGE thug who got into the home of his former girlfriend as she slept has been given a last chance by a judge.

And Jake Morrish, who was banned from contacting the woman, ended up in a stand-off with the police as he brandished a knife and threatened to kill himself.

But after hearing he had been in custody for five months and was receiving treatment for mental health problems a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

The 19-year-old first assaulted the woman when she was in the early stages of pregnancy in the summer of last year.

Morrish, who has a history of violence, then assaulted her again in March this year, a month after she gave birth to their premature son.

They had just got back from the special care unit at the hospital when he pushed her on to the bed and forced a pillow on her face, making it hard to breath.

He was put on a suspended sentence by magistrates who also imposed a three month restraining order to keep him away from her.

But on Saturday, June 28, she was woken in the middle of the night by the defendant standing at the end of her bed.

"She said 'You need to leave before I call the police'. He said 'If you call the police, trust me, I'll hurt you and me before that happens'," Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing.

Then, on Friday, July 18, she was again woken during the night by Morrish standing at the end of the bed.

"He approached her, pushed her on the bed. She landed face down, he started pushing her face in the bed. She couldn't breath, she thought he was trying to suffocate her," Miss Squire said.

She managed to get up and away and he then punched her, sending her to the ground, and hearing her screams a neighbour called the police.

During the assault he used a kitchen knife to stab the bed and as she managed to get away he said 'If I don't kill you, I'll kill myself'.

Miss Squire said: "He was also shouting at officers 'I admit it, I hit her'. He was shouting 'If any of you come up the stairs I'll kill myself'."

She said there was a stand off for a short period before officers managed to restrain and arrest him.

Morrish, formerly of Croft Road, admitted twice breaching a restraining order, common assault, threatening behaviour and breaching a suspended sentence.

The court heard he had convictions for assault starting when he was 11 years old and a residential school for children with behavioural problems.

Tony Bignall, defending, said his client had 'something approaching bipolar' and was on medication which seemed to be helping him.

He said he was also keen to work with both probation and drug workers and is trying to be positive after becoming a father.

Imposing a 24 month jail term suspended for two years Recorder Ian Lawrie QC said if he failed he would face a lengthy jail term.

"If I give him this opportunity and he fails it will be open season if it comes back before me, and it will be before me, if he does not follow the specific orders I make."

He said under the order he would have to live at approved accommodation and  complete programmes under the probation service.

The judge said he was giving him the chance because of his youth and he could see a 'glimmer of hope'.

He also imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting his former girlfriend for an indefinite period.