A FATHER-of-four launched a torrent of abuse down the phone at his estranged wife, calling her a "two-faced cow", magistrates heard.

Mark Hodson appeared at Worcester magistrates yesterday, where he admitted a charge of sending a message by telephone of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character.

Hodson, aged 39, was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £75 costs.

Paul Whitfield, prosecuting, said that between May 16 and June 2 this year, Hodson had phoned his estranged wife Sharon, who moved to live with her mother in Droitwich last Christmas, on several occasions, leaving "intimidating and upsetting" phone messages.

"There was reference to Hodson saying 'you don't give a s*** do you? You are a two-faced cow. If you want to speak to these children you better be in'," he said.

Mr Whitfield said the matter was reported to police and Hodson, of Chester Road North, Kidderminster, admitted making the calls.

In mitigation, Patricia Beeching said Hodson was in the midst of the first set of divorce proceedings.

She said he had become increasingly frustrated about being encouraged to promote contact between his children and their mother when they were not keen to speak to her.

"My client is blamed by outside agencies if he does not promote contact between his children and their mother but his children get angry if he does because they are very angry and resentful of her actions," she said.

"My client's language was not choice but it was an expression of his anger at the situation."