AN arrested man hurled threats at a policeman on a journey from Evesham to Droitwich with "real hatred in his voice."

PC Paul Adams told magistrates at Evesham that he was shocked by Patrick Liston's attitude.

"The tone of the one-way conversation was quite vindictive against PC Philip Rushen. There was real hatred in his voice," said PC Adams.

Liston, aged 31, formerly of Princess Road, Evesham, and now living at Martin Street, Widnes, Cheshire, denied using threatening behaviour towards PC Rushen on December 22, but was convicted and fined £150 with £150 costs at Evesham court on April 18.

PC Rushen said: "Liston made several threats against me, my wife and my family. He talked about cutting himself and bleeding all over me. He also made reference to where I lived. I was concerned for my welfare and that of my family."

Liston told the court the incident started when he was in the cells at Evesham and reference was made to a piece of bloodied tissue which, he said, PC Rushen refused to examine because he "didn't know what he might catch from it."

He explained: "That was why in the car I said I would cut myself and bleed all over him if he thought I had some disease."

Liston said: "I didn't make any other comment about him or his family." Henry Hughes, aged 22, of Princess Road, Evesham, who was in the car on the same journey, said Liston did not make any threats against PC Rushen.

He added: "In the past we have both been stopped by PC Rushen and he has never found anything. It is obvious he has a vendetta against us."

Court chairman Gerald Heath said: "We prefer the evidence of the police officers which we believe to be an accurate account of events."

Liston and Hughes also pleaded not guilty to obstructing PC Rushen in the execution of his duty the same day. No evidence was offered and the cases were dismissed.