A councillor has been jailed after making threats towards an MP and council leader.

Peter Little, 37, of Grasmere Terrace, Maryport, has been sentenced to 18 weeks in prison.

Passing sentence, district judge Mark Hadfield said that threats towards public servants were treated "very seriously" by the court, especially in light of recent events.

Little had been on a suspended prison sentence after being convicted on August 24 of a number of public order offences, including the homophobic abuse of police officers.

He appeared at Workington Magistrates' Court for sentencing today, after pleading guilty to sending an offensive message at an earlier hearing on September 29.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court that Little had sent an email to Allerdale Council's chief executive, Andrew Seekings, on the morning of September 4.

In the email, Little had said: "Never contact me again. You and the MP are f*****."

The court heard that Mr Seekings had reported the matter to Cumbria Police and the Metropolitan Police, due to the threat made towards Workington MP, Mark Jenkinson.

Mr Kelly said that at the time of the offence, there had been a lot in the press about Little and his possible resignation as a councillor.

When interviewed by police, Little said there had been "no malice" in his email.

Little told police, "I just thought I would let them know they were all in it for themselves.

"I just felt everyone was wanting me to resign. I just told him to stop contacting me."

Little had gone on to say: "I hope in time they get their downfall" and that Mark Jenkinson "was not a liked man in Maryport".

John Cooper, defending, said: "He appreciates he shouldn't have sent it. Mr Seekings says he is disappointed because of the abuse he receives. He doesn't say he is distressed.

"To be fair, he has taken it in quite a balanced way. He then contacts police because of the nature of the comments."

When passing sentence, Judge Hadfield made reference to the recent killing of MP Sir David Amess.

He said: "Any threat directed towards a public servant is always treated very seriously by the court. All too obvious of course as a result of the recent tragic events in the last few days.

"There is clearly a theme emerging for your conduct. A custodial sentence is inevitable."

Little shouted "pigs" and other profanities as he was led away to the cells.