AN Ipswich man who threatened to kill his brother has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.Andrew Hughes was told he was "very fortunate indeed" that exceptional circumstances could be found to prevent his immediate incarceration.

AN Ipswich man who threatened to kill his brother has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.

Andrew Hughes was told he was "very fortunate indeed" that exceptional circumstances could be found to prevent his immediate incarceration. "Otherwise you would have gone straight inside," said Judge John Devaux.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Hughes' brother Glen believed he saw Hughes point a handgun at him from his van window. He later received a text from Hughes saying "Bang bang," Charles Myatt, prosecuting, said.

Hughes had also sent a series of text messages to his brother prior to these incidents, warning that if Glen Hughes contacted the defendant's friends or children "he would kill him".

Judge Devaux said the only reason he was not sending the 35-year-old, of Burwell Road, to prison was to try to keep the peace between the brothers who had fallen out over their mother's will.

The court heard that following Hughes' arrest last April there had been no further trouble between the brothers although they had not been reconciled.

Hughes pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour towards his brother and was sentenced to eight months' jail term suspended for 18 months.

He also admitted breaching a conditional discharge which was imposed last year after Hughes was convicted of carrying an imitation firearm in a public place.

Judge Devaux sentenced Hughes to a further seven days in prison suspended for 18 months to run concurrently with the previous sentence.