A Ross-ON-WYE man threatened to kill his mother after she refused to give him money to buy alcohol, Hereford Magistrates heard.

Simon John Bolton of Verschoyle Gardens pleaded guilty of making threats to kill Jane Bolton, leading her to understand they would be carried out.

Stephen Davies prosecuting said on November 2, Mrs Bolton went about her work at the Kings Head pub in Ross-on-Wye. Her son pestered her throughout the day for cash for alcohol.

At the end of her shift, Mrs Bolton offered to give a friend a lift home, when Bolton, aged 23, approached her and said: "Just give me f***ing 50p."

Mrs Bolton and her friend got into her car and Bolton climbed in too, and became more and more aggressive.

Serious

He said he was going to smash the car up, the Kings Head, and kill Mrs Bolton, said Mr Davies.

When police arrived Bolton threatened to 'slice their heads off, kill them and their families'.

Richard Shaw, representing Bolton, said that although there were serious threats made, his client was surprised his mother took them seriously.

"He accepts that he got extremely frustrated and extremely angry and he had also been drinking," he said.

Mr Shaw added that Bolton had been made subject to a mental health order and had received treatment at the Stonebow Unit, Hereford.

The case was adjourned until December 10 for sentence.