A MAN who insulted a benefits officer and a psychiatrist has been warned that he must curb his offensive behaviour.

Peter Collins called Valerie Upton, a principal benefits officer, a "Nazi fascist pig" and harassed her with continual telephone calls.

He was also involved in a scuffle with Dr Robert Ireland, a psychiatrist at Kidderminster General Hospital, as he tried to distribute leaflets containing personal details about him.

Collins, 44, of Flint Close, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to harassing Mrs Upton and possession of an offensive weapon, a flick knife.

He denied common assault on Dr Ireland and the charge was left to lie on the prosecution file.

Collins was given a three-year conditional discharge at Worcester Crown Court. An order was made forbidding him to contact or communicate with Mrs Upton for an unlimited period.

Darron Whitehead, defending, said Collins had already been in custody for eight months.

A conditional discharge would be a monitor on his behaviour. He would still have to attend the benefits office on occasion and it would be wrong, said Mr Whitehead, to ban him from the hospital should he need care.

Recorder Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC ordered destruction of the flick knife but said he was concerned about weapons found by police at the Collins home. These were two knives, an axe and a crossbow.

Mr Whitehead said Collins wished to keep these. The knives were for normal kitchen use, the axe was used for chopping frozen chickens and the crossbow was of sentimental value.

The recorder made no order about these items but warned Collins to behave in his contact with benefits staff and the hospital.