A MAN who told a police officer 'I am going to kill my wife' in a drunken outburst has been spared jail.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday how Sean Case, formerly of Marshall Road in Banbury, had been drinking at The Musketeer pub when he first made the threat to South Central Ambulance Service.

He phoned the emergency services and threatened to kill his wife.

The police were called and when they arrived Case continued his threats.

Judge Peter Ross said: "When the officer attended you said words to this effect, 'I am going to f***ing kill her' and 'I am going to kill my wife, I am going to do it, going to kill her but not today'.

ALSO READ: Jihadi Jack 'not a danger' despite threat to behead soldiers, says mum

While sentencing judge Ross said: "You had a trial, quite why you chose to have a trial is actually beyond me and although your counsel did a sterling job [...] the matter remains that relatively readily under cross examination you told the jury you probably meant it.

"You meant the officer to believe you intended to kill your wife and that is the truth of the matter."

He added: "This wasn't a joke, it was very clearly said, and meant in a way that was meant [for the officer] to believe your intentions."

ALSO READ: Lidl to replace Matalan at Oxford shopping park

During the sentencing, Oxford Crown Court heard Case being referred to as 'angry rather than delusional'.

His defence said he plans to rebuild his life after coming out of prison, where he has been held in custody for almost eight months.

While in prison, Case had been working with DHL delivery service and hopes to pick this role up upon his release.

Case was sentenced to a suspended sentence of two years imprisonment suspended for two years.

He was also ordered by Judge Ross to attend an alcohol treatment programme for 12 months.