A man threatened to cut off his ex-partner's head after being arrested for assaulting her, a court has heard. Adrian Worsely warned police that if they released him from the station he would go out and kill the woman.

Swansea Crown Court heard the breakdown of the couple's relationship had had a "significant" impact on the 50-year-old, and at the time of the incident he was living in a van. In a statement that was read to the court the victim said Worsely was "lovely" when sober but when in drink she said she was scared of him and what he might do.

Ieuan Rees, prosecuting, said Worsely and the complainant in the case had been in a relationship for some 14 years until it came to an end in early 2023 due to problems associated with the defendant's consumption of alcohol and his resulting aggressive behaviour. He said that by the time of the offending in August this year Worsely was living in a van but was a frequent and often unannounced visitor to the family home where he was allowed to wash his clothes and himself.

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The court heard that on August 24 the defendant's former partner returned from a family day out to find Worsely in an intoxicated state in her Gowerton garden - he was initially allowed to stay but later that evening was told that such behaviour "had to stop", and he left. However, he returned later that evening while his ex was upstairs on the phone and after shouting and swearing at her, punched her in the face. Police were alerted but the defendant had left the property by the time officers arrived. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here

The prosecutor said Worsely made a number of subsequent visits to the house before officers located and arrested him on August 30. The court heard that, while in custody, the defendant became "verbally aggressive and abusive" and then made treats to kill his ex, telling an officer that he wanted to go straight to prison and if they released him "I will go out and cut her ******* head off".

In an impact statement from Worsely's ex-partner that was read to the court, she said she still cared for the defendant and she described him as "lovely" when sober but she said she was scared of him when he was intoxicated and was concerned for the safety of the family. The woman said that without the intervention of the police she did not think the defendant would ever leave her alone, and she would therefore like a restraining order.

Adrian Joseph Philip Worsely, of no fixed abode, had previously pleaded guilty to assault by beating and to making threats to kill when he appeared n the dock for sentencing. He has eight previous convictions for 16 offences including battery, assault, criminal damage, and three assaults occasioning actual bodily harm.

Gerorgia Donohue, for Worsely, said it was accepted that the defendant had a significant alcohol problem as well as mental health difficulties, but had signed up for the 12-Steps programme and was also in the early stages of undergoing trauma therapy. She added that Worsely had been of the view that the relationship with his partner was on-going.

Recorder Benjamin said it was clear that the breakdown of the relationship had had a "significant" impact on the defendant. He said he had read about the defendant's difficulties with alcohol and his mental health, and of the steps he was taking to tackling the issues. He also said he had watched CCTV footage from the police station and it was clear the threats to kill had been made out of frustration but, none-the-less, it was a serous offence. The recorder noted that probation had not been able to put forward any alternative to immediate custody given the defendant's issues with alcohol, and "not without some hesitation" he had come to the conclusion that the sentence that was due could not be suspended.

With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, Worsely was sentenced to eight months in prison comprising eight months for making threats to kill and 12 weeks for battery to run concurrently. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant was made the subject of a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting his ex.

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