A MAN used a brick to smash through a couple's patio door in the early hours leaving them 'terrified'.

Shane Christopher Oldham, 25, claimed that he was looking for a safe place to hide after being chased by a group of Polish men armed with weapons.

Michael Spencer, the homeowner of the house on Westfields Street confronted the defendant who reassured him that he didn't intend the steal from his property.

Oldham, of Scotland Place, Tenbury Wells, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the door valued at £1,000 and possession of cannabis 0.25 grammes worth of cannabis.

Amy Davies, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday, said that on August 5, Mr Spencer was asleep at home when at 2am he was awoken by his wife telling him that their dogs in the garden were barking.

He then heard several loud bangs and went down to investigate. As he was was half-way down the stairs he heard the smashing of glass.

Mr Spencer shouted 'what do you want?' In reply Oldham said: 'It's alright, I'm not going to steal anything, there are five Polish lads after me.'

The defendant, who had used a brick to smash the patio door, was told to sit down. Shortly afterwards he told Mr Spencer that he was going to get a knife from the kitchen, he mentioned that people were following him and that they were still there, nobody was seen by the victim.

Police were called, although initially the defendant said not to call them.

On interview Oldham said that he had climbed over the fence to get away from the Polish males who were 'hunting him down'.

He admitted that he had been drinking and smoking cannabis. When asked who the males were he was unable to provide information.

In a victim impact statement Mr Spencer said that he was worried for him and his wife's safety.

He said his wife was 'shook up and distressed' by the incident.

"It's clear Mr Spencer and his wife were absolutely terrified as Oldham was initially in possession of a brick and then stated that he was going to get a knife," said Mrs Davies.

"There was clearly no threat of violence to either of these individuals."

Emma Thorne, mitigating, said that Oldham had gone to a friends that evening from 6pm until 1am.

"Things took a turn for the worst when he had an argument with his friend and decided to leave," said Mrs Thorne.

"He waited outside a property opposite where another friend lived while he finished his work shift. While he was waiting, inside the house he had just left he saw somebody on their phone.

"Within a matter of minutes a car pulled up and five males jumped out and came at him. One was armed with a baton and another a pole. He panicked and jumped over his friend's fence to get away.

"He knew they were on his tail and knocked on the patio door as he wanted a place of safety. There was no answer so saw a pile of bricks stacked up and picked one up to smash through.

"He is very sorry to the Spencers for scaring them and tried to re-assure them that he was not there to harm them. Police were there within five minutes of being called."

Chair of magistrates Robyn Lee ordered Oldham to complete a community order for 12 months including 100 hours of unpaid work.

She said: "The two people in their house were terrified by what you did."

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation for the damage caused and £100 for each of the couple for distress caused.

Oldham was also ordered to pay £135 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

No separate penalty was imposed for possession of cannabis charge.

Oldham said he would pay the compensation and charges at a rate of £10 per week.