A DRINKER in a village pub near Ledbury shouted at locals “This is Fred West country and you are all child molesters,” a court heard was told.

Shortly afterwards Ian Norfolk threatened to stab and kill a police officer who he described as a paedophile.

Norfolk, who is 59, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court to using threatening behaviour at the Beauchamp Arms, Dymock, on January 26.

Prosecuting lawyer Sonia Allford told the bench that the incident was captured on CCTV.

Landlady Marie Ballinger told police that the defendant had become loud, aggressive and agitated and by 9.30pm he was told he’d had his last drink.

“He refused to leave the pub and shouted ‘This is Fred West country, you are all child molesters and you are all as bad as Fred West,’” said Miss Allford.

“The landlady contacted a friend of hers who is a police officer and he came to help.”

But when the officer, who was off-duty, arrived the defendant told him that he was a paedophile and then said: “I’ll kill you, I’ll stab you,” said the lawyer.

Defending himself, Norfolk said: “I was abusive but other locals were abusive to me first. But I do have to admit that I have an alcohol problem.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with a drinking awareness course and ordered him to do 80 hours of unpaid work.

Norfolk, of Western Way, Dymock, was also banned from the pub for a year and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.