An employee who lost his job with a Hereford car rental firm made a £50,000 blackmail threat to his former boss, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Lee Osborne, who worked for Hereford Vehicle Rentals for two years before being made redundant, pleaded guilty to making an unwarranted demand with menaces to Gail Davies.

Osborne, aged 32, of Marley House, Colwall Road, Homer, near Hereford, was remanded on bail for a pre-sentence report.

A basis of plea read to the court by his barrister, Nicholas Smith, stated: "Osborne believed that Hereford Vehicle Rentals was altering the mileage on various cars it rented prior to their return.

"This, he believed, caused a loss to other companies. He photocopied various documents from the company and kept them.

"On May 9, 2003, Osborne met Davies and told her what he thought. He demanded they paid £50,000 or thereabouts to the companies he believed were owed or he would tell the police. He did not demand any money for himself.

"He did want them to write a letter headed 'Hereford Vehicle Rentals' as proof they had paid the money."

Mr Smith said Osborne accepted his conduct amounted to an unwarranted demand for money, he had no reasonable grounds for making the demand and it was not a proper means of reinforcing the demand.

John Edwards, prosecuting, said the basis of plea was accepted.