A 40-YEAR-old who was abusive to a receptionist at a doctor's surgery has been given a conditional discharge.

Craig Foster of Rothesay Mead, Newton Farm, Hereford pleaded guilty to using threatening/abusive words or behaviour.

Herefordshire Magistrates Court heard that on February 24 Foster went into Wargrave House Surgery in St Owen Street on a quiet Friday afternoon asking for a further sick note, but was told by a receptionist he would need to see a doctor.

He became agitated and said there was a vendetta for people like him. He then said: "I will kill someone. It would be someone innocent. It will be someone like you."

Foster then went outside to the street and shout and swore. The receptionist went to get a doctor who told him to calm down and they would get it sorted.

The receptionist said she was frightened by his behaviour.

Marilena Divitantonio, in mitigation, said Foster became stressed because he would lose his benefits if he did not have a sick note.

She said he was sorry for what he had done.

Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to the receptionist. He was ordered to pay costs of £50 and a victim surcharge of £20.