A CITY man who verbally abused and threatened to beat up his ex-girlfriend has appeared before Worcester magistrates.

Shane Pinfield, from Avening Close, Worcester, yesterday pleaded guilty to using threatening language, the possession of an offensive weapon, and two counts of criminal damage.

The offences began in July 2002, when Pinfield, aged 27, went to the Worcester house where his former girlfriend, Mandy Bennett, was staying and demanded to see her.

When he did not see her, he began being abusive and started to wave a hammer above his head.

Pinfield smashed the front window of the house and caused significant damage to the VW Golf parked outside.

Peter Parsons, prosecuting, told the court that a few days later, Pinfield approached Bennett on Barbourne Road and unleashed a verbal tirade at her.

"Pinfield said: 'I feel like kicking your face in, you slag. It's lucky you have your daughter with you.'

"He abused her further," said Mr Parsons.

"When she told him the police had been told about him, he said he did not care."

Pinfield also pleaded guilty to stealing a Roto Zip multi-purpose power tool from Homebase, in Worcester, valued at £129.99, on February 2, 2003, as well as two counts of failing to surrender to bail in February and March 2003.

His defence lawyer said Pinfield was a drug addict at the time but was now on medication to help him get through heroin withdrawal.

The court ordered him to return to court on Friday, June 13, for a pre-sentence report and imposed conditions on his release.

He has to live at his current address and report to Worcester police every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 5pm and 7pm.