A DISABLED husband caused £17,500 damage by ramming his estranged wife's Bartestree home with his car.

Mitchell Powell, paralysed from the chest down, smashed through the garage door of the home in Wilcroft Park and knocked her Seat Toledo through the back wall into the neighbour's property.

He also crashed into his brother-in-law's car parked in front of the lounge, terrifying the family, including children, who cowered inside the house.

Powell, distraught by his marriage breakdown, then tried to slash his wrists with a knife and police had to break the windows of his Vauxhall Zafra to arrest him, said David Iles, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

The 33-year-old had sent his wife Tracey vitriolic text messages and ordered unauthorised deliveries of goods to her home before the incident on March 14 last year.

Mr Iles said: "He used his car as a battering ram. The occupiers were extremely frightened and couldn't get out. His wife is in considerable fear of him and unless he is restrained he will continue his activities towards her."

Powell, of Tolladine Road, Worcester, pleaded guilty to damaging property while wreckless whether life was endangered and putting his wife in fear of violence by harrassment.

Judge Andrew Geddes accepted that Powell was suffering from feelings of hopelessness and lack of self worth at the time and was still clinically depressed.

But he said it did not excuse his behaviour, which had clearly been terrifying and would normally attract a substantial jail term. Powell had been in custody.

The judge released him and passed a community rehabilitation order for three years and said he hoped Powell would receive psychological help. He passed a restraining order to stop all contact with the family, including text messages.

The defendant struck after driving past the semi-detached house in Wilcroft Park, Bartestree. In text messages he had branded his wife 'The Bartestree Beast' and warned: "You're next," said Mr Iles.

She anticipated trouble over a court injunction she had served on Powell and moved her car into the garage, closing the door. But the family then heard a series of loud bangs as Powell rammed a second car before smashing through the garage in a series of shunts.

The Seat was pushed through a brick wall belonging to the neighbour, an off-duty policeman.

Francis Laird, defending, said Powell had lost all hope following a tragic motorcyle smash in 2001.

"Everything he held dear was taken from him," he said. "He was a healthy, vigorous bread winning husband who became dependent and permanently disabled. He didn't want a divorce and felt he was being abandoned."

In a text message, he reminded his wife of her "sickness and in health" marriage vows made in 1988.

On the day he snapped, Powell saw the house was up for sale for £125,000. Mr Laird added: "That's what triggered his behaviour. He's drowning in his life at the moment and has attempted suicide. It's one of the saddest cases I have ever had to deal with."