A MAN threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend in a series of “vile” text messages likened to “drink induced vulgarity”, a court heard.

Mark Bush, 35, sent Donna Higgins texts which read “Go and die”, “I will smash you in the teeth” and “I’m going to kill you” following an argument at her home in Newport.

She received around 40 messages, some of a sexual nature, Newport Magistrates’ Court heard.

She later said: “I told him to leave me alone. I don’t know what to do to stop him”, said Chris Rose, prosecuting.

Bush, of no fixed abode, has already spent six months on remand after being recalled to prison for a previous offence.

The defendant pleaded guilty to one charge of causing harassment to Ms Higgins between July 26 and August 2 last year.

Gareth Driscoll, mitigating, told the court the content of the messages was “vile” and tantamount to “drink-induced vulgarity”.

He added they had been in a “volatile relationship” and the court heard they separated in September 2012. Magistrate Brian White adjourned the case to Monday and remanded Bush in custody.