A MAN began swearing at a judge after being warned he faced years in jail for threatening to kill his mother.

Simon Bolton had gone to the King's Head pub in Ross-on-Wye, demanding money and drinks from his mother, who worked there.

She gave him both but refused more drink when he approached her again as her shift finished, said Michael Aspinall, prosecuting.

Bolton then got into her car, banged the dashboard with his fists and made a death threat.

Nine months earlier he was convicted of a similar offence of threatening to kill his mother, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Bolton, aged 23, of Verschoyle Gardens, Ross-on-Wye, admitted making a threat to kill.

Judge David McEvoy QC observed that when the defendant had taken drink and drugs he did not know what he was doing.

He pointed out that the maximum sentence for such a crime was 10 years jail and added: "I have in mind a sentence of a number of years. If you go on, you could be a danger to your mother."

The judge remanded Bolton back into custody and ordered a psychiatric report. But the defendant began a four-letter word rant and a policeman had to help security staff take him to the cells below the court.

Dele Alakija, defending, apologised to the judge for his client's behaviour in the dock.

He said Bolton had been using amphetamine since the age of 14. He was ashamed of the threats and his mother, Jane Bolton, was prepared to have him home when he was released.

The court heard that Bolton went to his mother's pub on November 2 last year.

He became aggressive in her car and warned: "I'm going to smash this car and I'm going to kill you," said Mr Aspinall.

Bolton said he didn't care if he died either. He was arrested at his mother's home but expressed no remorse in an interview with probation officers.