A HEREFORDSHIRE man threatened to smash another person's head in as a row over money boiled over.

Stephen Wakelin admitted one count of criminal damage and one of sending a threatening message when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford by video link from HMP Stoke Heath.

Wakelin and the victim had been friends before the incident, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

But on September 26, Wakelin had gone to the victim's house, which belongs to Connexus Housing, and had smashed a kitchen window. He had later sent messages containing threats, including one that said: "I will smash your head in".

In a statement, the victim said he was shaken, shocked, and concerned by Wakelin's behaviour, and was scared for his and his partner's safety.

"I have known him for a long time and know what he is capable of," the victim said.

"He has no morals."

The court heard Wakelin has a number of previous convictions including for criminal damage, cannabis possession, and motoring matters.

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Edmund Middleton, for Wakelin, said the 27-year-old, who was jailed in November for a different offence and who is due to be released in August, had admitted the offences from the outset.

"He has an unenviable record, but the lion's share of his offending does not have anywhere near as compelling a motivation as these matters" Mr Middleton said.

The court heard Wakelin's sister had been in a relationship with the victim, and had lent him a "considerable sum" of money.

"He was somewhat reluctant to pay any money back and that debt still remains," Mr Middleton said.

"My client reached out to him to try and resolve this, and his emotions got the better of him.

"He says the victim produced a knife and so he smashed the window with his elbow."

Mr Middleton said Wakelin is due to move to an approved premises in the local area after his release and that any extension to his sentence would mean he could lose that place and instead end up out of the area without the same support network.

Wakelin, who is currently of HMP Stoke Heath, Market Drayton, was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay compensation of £253.78. No costs or victim surcharge was imposed due to his lack of means.