A MAN allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend with a knife after grabbing her by the neck in Maybole.

Jason Carter is said to have assaulted his partner at an address in Murray Gardens during an incident on September 16 last year.

It is claimed that the 31-year-old seized the woman by the throat and compressed it, seized her by the body and threw her against a TV unit.

Prosecutors claim that Carter then brandished a knife at the alleged victim and "uttered threats to kill her".

The Crown's indictment states this was "all to her injury", with the charge aggravated by involving abuse towards a partner.

Carter was absent when his case called for a pre-trial first diet hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court.

His defence solicitor said he pleaded not guilty to the charge but offered no explanation for his absence - adding he had attended court for a summary matter in the previous weeks.

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart adjourned proceedings until a later date, with the Crown not seeking any warrant out of 'pragmatism'.

The case will call in Ayr Sheriff Court at a later date.