A POSSESSIVE, knife-wielding man who failed to turn up for a community order imposed for assaulting his former partner has been given another chance.

Julius Gordon was told by a judge that ‘people are not property’ when he was spared jail for the attack in September last year.

The 44-year-old was put on the 24-month community order after he waved a knife at his girlfriend when they argued as their relationship was falling apart.

He was given a last warning by probation after he failed to turn up for a meeting in January, but he again missed an appointment in March.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client had started well on the order but had a drink problem which he was trying to tackle.

“He was living in accommodation with people who were still drinking. He thought the only thing to do was leave the accommodation,” he said.

“He has been homeless for four months. He frankly went downhill and he missed an appointment in March.”

Mr Ross said he had now re-engaged with the probation service, which was helping him apply to the council for a home.

Judge Tim Mousley QC said: “You have not reached the point where you are running out of chances, but if you come before this court having breached this order again in any way then the likelihood is you will go to prison.”

He told him to pay £40 costs and gave him another three month alcohol treatment programme to address his drink problem.

Gordon, of Victoria Road, was put on the community order after admitting assaulting the woman after taking her car without permission.

He said they had both been drinking heavily and under a great deal of stress after she had miscarried their child when he committed the offences.

The court heard they had been together 18 months and the relationship had started well, but he became volatile and possessive towards her, drinking heavily.

She had been out with friend in Old Town and had bumped into Gordon, who she tried to get to leave her alone.

When she went to drive home she found her car was not where she had left it. She found it nearby, with Gordon, who had got hold of a spare key, behind the wheel.

After she got home he turned up, banging at the door, screaming and shouting and throwing things at her windows before using a key to get in.

He put his hand over her mouth, causing bruising, and she produced a knife which, unknown to him, she kept under the bed.

Gordon told the court she had threatened to hurt herself with it, so he took it from her and, after waving it around saying “some silly things”, he threw it on top of a wardrobe.

Passing sentence Recorder Michael Bowes QC said: “As I am sure you understand, any form of violence towards someone with whom you are in a relationship is completely unacceptable.

“It is no less serious than violence against a stranger: people are not property, do you understand that?”