AN angry teenage arsonist sent a 'revenge porn' sex video of a woman to her friends and brother to make her life 'a living hell' before he hit a man with a metal bar in a drunken rage.

Oliver Price sent the video to the woman's friends, who chose not to view it, and even to her brother (though it was deleted before he could see it), using the footage, in the judge's words, 'as a weapon' against her.

The apprentice chef also attacked a man with a metal pole at the YMCA in Stanley Road in Worcester before he struggled with city police, threatening to headbutt a police officer while shouting and swearing.

Yet Judge James Burbidge QC, the Recorder of Worcester, spared the 18-year-old jail at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday because of his mental health issues, describing him as 'fragile', immature and 'a child'. "He's emotionally stunted. He's immature. He's excessively jealous" said the judge.

Price, who lit a cigarette as soon as he stepped out of the court, admitted disclosing a sexual image to cause distress, harassment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

The defendant, now of Teesdale Road, Droitwich, already had a youth caution for ABH and four offences of battery by the time he was 17. In May 2018 he was made subject to a six month referral order by the youth court for arson in September 2017.

Graham Russell, prosecuting, said the defendant began harassing the woman, who cannot be identified, on October 10 this year when she was out with her friends for a drink. She received 61 calls from a withheld number and every time she answered the phone it was Price.

He threatened to disclose a sexually explicit video before circulating the video for others to see.

In one message he said: "All I have left in me is pure hatred." In another message he wrote: "I honestly hope she is crying her eyes out now."

Price said to her in a further message: "I will continue to make your life a living hell as long as you continue to mug me off - and that's a promise."

The victim said in a statement that she 'absolutely broke down' as a result of what Price did.

Mr Russell added: "She described it as one of the worst things that could ever have happened to her."

Diagnosed with depression, she received medication and counselling as a result of Price's actions.

"She was initially concerned about leaving the house for fear of meeting him," said the prosecutor who argued that Price had sought to 'maximise the humiliation he inflicted'.

The woman's family also a shared a video of the defendant pacing around outside their home, ironically telling her to delete photos of him.

"I'm not moving until you delete the photographs" he can be heard saying. He was told by her there were no photos of him. When arrested Price gave a no comment interview to police.

On November 9 this year at the YMCA in Stanley Road, Worcester and while on bail for the other offence, the defendant was described as discharging a fire extinguisher outside the door of a resident.

The resident, who was with his friend, was in the process of moving out and into a studio flat.

Mr Russell said Price threatened to knock the man 'the **** out' if he did not return to his room.

Price later asked the man for cigarette papers and filters, 'refusing to take no for an answer'. Eventually he was given a vaporiser before he again began discharging the fire extinguisher.

Both men were said to be 'intimidated' by Price who was by now brandishing a metal bar which one of them tried to grab hold of, causing a cut to his hand.

Price then hit the man to the right side of his body with the metal bar, also hitting him in the face with an elbow before the defendant continued to punch him. The victim suffered a bleeding lip as a result.

A number of police officers arrived by which time Price had locked himself in his room and refused to come out, officers taking 30 to 40 minutes to coax him out.

Through his window an officer could see Price holding a half metre long aluminium pipe. Officers armed with Tasers had to attend as Price continued to shout threats.

"He appeared to be talking to himself and the room was in poor order with lots of discarded alcohol cans on the floor" said Mr Russell.

Judge Burbidge told the defendant: "You are 18 years old but you present as a child. You are a fragile individual who would struggle to cope in custody because of your poor mental health and the fact you have resorted to self-harm in the past. You have recently been admitted to hospital suffering from psychosis." Price was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months and also made subject to a community order. As part of this he must complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a victim impact workbook, 14 sessions of the choices and chances resource pack and go to an attendance centre for 36 hours.

The victim, who watched from the public gallery, was asked by the judge if she wanted compensation for the suffering he had caused her or whether she would consider such an order 'insulting'.

She replied 'insulting' so the judge declined to award compensation. He made a restraining order which prohibits any contact with her. This will run until December 9, 2025.