A MAN threatened to shoot a hairdresser and "slaughter" the family of a shopper in a Herefordshire town, a court has heard.

Vincent Lacey admitted four charges of using threatening or abusive behaviour and one of causing criminal damage when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in October.

Lacey had been seen outside Ross-on-Wye's Mountain Warehouse shop with a can of beer at 8am on August 1, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

Later that day, he was seen swearing in the street, and telling a member of the public he would "slaughter their family", the court was told, before, at 2pm, jumping on a bin and kicking a shop sign, causing it to snap in half.

In a police interview, Lacey said he had drunk three beers and was not drunk, telling officers he had been walking around with headphones in and that he had merely tapped the sign with his foot.

On August 11, police were again called after Lacey entered a hairdresser's shop at 5pm, carrying an open bottle of prosecco, shouting and pointing at the till, asking how much money was in it.

Staff said they were alarmed by his behaviour, with one member of staff telling police he threatened to shoot them, and that she believed he was going to use the bottle to hit them.

In police interview, Lacey said it had all been pretend and that he had been acting, but admitted that he had been drinking since midday.

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Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Lacey, said the 44-year-old had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and that she felt a pre-sentencing report was needed.

"There are mental health issues to be taken into consideration, and he tells me he has been having a difficult time," she said.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out by probation, with Lacey returning to the courtroom later that day.

Lacey, of Nursery Road, Ross, was handed a 12-month community order and must pay costs of £135 and a £114 victim surcharge.

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