A Milford Haven man drank litres of cheap cider before threatening to murder his neighbour and a dog warden.

Daniel Mochan, of Howarth Close, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour intending to cause fear of, or provoke violence, when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, August 7.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that a council dog warden was in Milford Haven on July 5 when she was approached by Mochan, who appeared to be heavily intoxicated.

Mochan, 54, became abusive and aggressive, swearing about the council, stating: “I’m going to kill you all, I’m going to kill you.”

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “He continued being aggressive. She did not believe he was going to kill her, but she was frightened he may do something because of his demeanour.”

Mochan returned home, and spat at his neighbour as she opened her door, but missed.

He then started shouting and swearing at her, stating: “I will murder you like I murdered my mother.”

The woman did not believe Mochan intended to kill her, but feared for her safety because of his behaviour.

The police arrived shortly afterwards as they responded to the earlier incident, and Mochan told officers he was an alcoholic, and could not remember the incident because he had drunk more than was good for him.

He added: “I would never say anything like that, I am not an evil man.”

Mike Kelleher, defending, told the court that Mochan had consumed two and-a-half litres of cheap, strong, cider on the day in question.

He added that he had been suffering from problems relating to a broken foot for a number of years, and was upset with the council because he had asked them to fix a light.

Mr Kelleher said: “He says he is not a violent person, and the majority of the swearing would have been directed at himself rather than anyone else. It was a way of expressing his frustration.”

The bench heard that Mochan suffered from mental health problems, and the strong alcohol had a bad effect on him, but he had vowed to avoid it in future.

Mochan was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £30 surcharge.