Drinker taunted mum-to-be - court

4:17pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

A DROITWICH man verbally abused a pregnant woman for walking past his house in "loud shoes", a court was told.

Brian McWilliams shouted at the woman, who was five months pregnant, before swearing at her.

The 45-year-old, of Vines Mews, admitted a charge of displaying words or behaviour that might cause harassment, alarm, or distress when he appeared before Worcester magistrates court.

Mark Soper, prosecuting, said the incident happened just before 6pm on Wednesday, February 6.

"The woman was on her way home from work when she passed McWilliams' house," he said. "As she went past she saw him in the upstairs window. He shouted, Can you wear any louder shoes?'"

Mr Soper said McWilliams then swore at her, which caused the woman some distress. McWilliams was then arrested and interviewed.

Mr Soper said: "He said he couldn't remember what he said because he had been drinking - he'd had something like a bottle of wine.

"He said the comments were actually directed at somebody else in the street but this was nevertheless distressing for the woman."

Representing himself, McWilliams offered no mitigation other than admitting he regularly drinks heavily and had two bottles of wine on the night of the incident.

Magistrates sentenced him to a conditional discharge for 12 months, made him pay £60 court costs and £50 compensation to the woman he abused.