AN ANGRY man has been given a suspended prison sentence after he told his estranged wife: "I have a gun - you can blow your head off!"

James Apps made the remarks after losing his temper during a meeting with his wife and social workers at The Pines in Bilford Road, Worcester.

Apps, 35, of no fixed address, admitted threatening behaviour at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday following the incident on Monday, January 14.

Dale Shehan, prosecuting, said the meeting started calmly but after five to 10 minutes Apps became "aggressive and argumentative" towards his wife of three years who is the mother of his two children - and has filed for divorce.

The meeting eventually ended after about 45 minutes following heated words from Apps.

Mr Shehan said: "Mr Apps said I have got a gun so you can blow your head off'. She did respond to that but felt extremely scared."

Mr Shehan said Mrs Apps suffered from depression and anxiety following the incident and reported having trouble sleeping.

Susie Duncan, defending, said: "He maintains it was a stupid, throw-away comment and perhaps it shows how stressed he was to have said something in front of all the professionals that were there.

"The threat doesn't involve the use of any physical violence. Police searched his home and no weapons of any description were found. He accepts he has a problem with his temper and has previously sought help for anger management."

Mrs Duncan said her client was an intelligent man with 10 GCSEs who had done charity work.

Apps, formerly of Spring Lane, Worcester, has been in custody for the last three weeks and now has no home, no income, no savings and debts of more than £2,500.

Magistrates handed a 20- week prison sentence suspended for 24 months.

The order also contained a supervision order for 24 months during which time he is forbidden from contacting his wife.