A MAN made threats to kill job centre staff after his benefits were stopped because it meant he could not afford to make a payment for a new motorbike.

Matthew Martindale was being ‘loud and aggressive’ during a phone call and then began banging the phone off a wall in a kiosk at the jobcentre in Sansome Walk in Worcester.

Martindale, aged 29, of Queens Estate, Wichenford, admitted using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour during the incident on April 26 when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Tuesday.Matt Dodson, prosecuting, said Martindale swore at a security officer and said: “Don’t touch me – I will stab you – I will kill you.”

Mr Dodson said Martindale then made offensive remarks to female customer service staff and told them: “I will follow you home. I will kill you. I will be waiting for you after work.”

Mr Dodson said: “The staff were left in shock and concerned about their own welfare.” The court heard how Martindale came to the jobcentre because benefits had not been paid into his post office account.

Mr Dodson said: “He had flown into a rage after learning there would be no money in his account for four weeks and would not be able to make a payment on a recently purchased motorbike.

“He lost his temper. This was down to the money situation.”

Martindale has 74 offences recorded against him and was on licence at the time of the public order offence at the job centre.

Andy Childs, defending, said Martindale had been co-operative with the police and entered an early guilty plea.

He said: “When he was leaving he did shout some unpleasant abuse at female members of the staff from a distance of 30 feet. He wasn’t in their faces. There was no violence.”

Mr Childs said Martindale had been offered a crisis loan then a community care grant and decided he needed transport so had bought a small motorbike on hire purchase and applied for a provisional licence.

Mr Childs said Martindale had had to default on the payment which had been ‘embarassing to him and his father’.

Mr Childs said Martindale had believed he was actively looking for work but had made five approaches for work instead of six.

Martindale had also asked for his apologies to be sent to the staff. Martindale will be sent to Worcester Crown Court on June 8 for sentencing. A report will be prepared in advance of the hearing. Martindale has one bail condition which is not to attend the job centre in Sansome Walk.