A businessman who went on the run after being charged with harassment has been sentenced to 28 days custody.

But Nicholas Pinfield was freed on the day of the hearing after a judge heard he had already served the time on remand.

Pinfield, 35, of Gloucester Close, Malvern, pleaded guilty to harassment of Gemma Mitchell and breaching bail.

He was given the jail term and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid community work and pay £500 costs.

Prosecutor Jane Sarginson told Worcester Crown Court that a warrant was issued for Pinfield's arrest on February 11.

He was picked up by police on July 23.

She said there had been little contact between Pinfield and Miss Mitchell and she was now happy to see him. She did not want a restraining order.

Pinfield had a previous conviction for wounding the new partner of an ex-girlfriend in 2004.

The victim was struck in the face with a hammer, said Miss Sarginson.

Edward Moss, defending, said Pinfield ran a gardening business and was "clearly a man who had moved on" by making positive strides to quit crime.

Although he had suffered a health problem when he failed to attend court in February, there had been plenty of time to hand himself in.

Judge Patrick Thomas QC said the defendant was not in the habit of mistreating or controlling women.

He was angry and upset with Miss Mitchell and subjected her to verbal threats in text messages at the end of a broken romance - but no threats were carried out.