A MANIC depressive who cut himself as he smashed through a kitchen window attacked his 60-year-old landlady and wiped blood across her face and in her hair.

With shards of glass in his arms, Darren Rew smeared blood throughout Margaret Rogers’ home; staining furniture, curtains, carpets and walls and causing more than £5,000 of damage.

He hit the landlady in the ribs, punched her twice in the face and later grabbed a police officer around the throat. A paramedic, who was called to the scene, said Rew and Rogers were both “saturated” in blood.

At Worcester Magistrates Court, 41-year-old Rew pleaded guilty to criminal damage, assault by beating, and assaulting a police officer.

Julie Rosamund, prosecuting, said Mrs Rogers was at home when she heard her windows being smashed by Rew, who rented a cottage next door to her in Sutton, Tenbury Wells.

“She saw the defendant had entered and he was bleeding badly. He had shards of glass protruding from his forearms.”

Mrs Rogers tried to administer first aid and called an ambulance, but Rew began to wipe his hands over the walls and furniture. “He struck her (Mrs Rogers) in the ribs and punched her in the face. He then smeared his bloodied hands across her face and in her hair.”

The court heard how police repeatedly struck Rew with batons and used CS spray to subdue him. While searching his room they realised he had not taken medication prescribed for bi-polar.

David Taylor, defending, said Rew – who had chosen not to plead not guilty for reasons of insanity – struggled to recall the episode.

He said: “He had no intention to assault anybody or do any damage. What he did was due to his bi-polar condition. On that day he was suffering the acute symptoms of that illness, which would explain Mr Rew’s difficulty to recall the incident.”

Deputy district judge John Begley ordered a pre-sentence report and remanded Rew in custody until his next court appearance on Wednesday, November 12.