A MAN who had split up with his girlfriend followed another of her ex-partners with a cricket bat after he told him to leave her home, but claimed he only had the bat for “self-defence”.

Craig Bradbury had come to collect his belongings from his former partner’s home in Cartwright Avenue, Warndon Villages, Worcester, when he was told to leave by another of her former boyfriends.

The 29-year-old admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a public place on September 2 when he appeared before deputy district judge Rufus Taylor at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Fred Pilkington, prosecuting, said Bradbury, of Western Hill Close, Redditch, did not have the bat with him when he arrived but found it at his ex-partner’s home, retrieving it from a cupboard under the stairs.

“He took it out in case there was trouble,” Mr Pilkington said.

Genevieve Worthington, for Bradbury, said he accepted he and his ex-partner had been involved in a verbal argument at the address, at which point she called another of her ex-boyfriends.

Mrs Worthington said: “He attended the address and told him (Craig Bradbury) to get out of the house.”

During the incident Bradbury picked up the bat and walked to his car. Mrs Worthington said he took the bat and went to see where the other man lived after he ran away.

“He said he was carrying it in self-defence in case there was a threat. He didn’t intend to use it but he accepts if he had been attacked he might use it to cause fear.

“He feels there was an imminent threat to his person. He didn’t go off, chasing him down the street. He doesn’t accept he went down the road chasing him or shouting his name.”

However, the judge said: “I accept it wasn’t used to threaten or cause fear but the offence was committed in dangerous circumstances. He needs to understand the seriousness.”

The court was told that Bradbury had previously served a four-year prison sentence but Mr Taylor accepted the defendant had a very good character reference from his employer.

He was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. He must pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.