A HOMELESS man was arrested after threatening police with a bottle, a court has heard.

Keith James Perkins, who is of no fixed address, admitted using threatening and abusive words and behaviour when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said police visited Perkins at around 5.25pm on September 30 after he called the emergency services and said he was thinking about hurting himself.

On arrival, officers spotted 52-year-old Perkins walking away from them, and asked him to stop.

But he became verbally abusive, threatening to “rap them around the head” with the bottle of cider he was carrying.

Police took the bottle from him and took hold of his arm, but Perkins was arrested after he continued his abuse, telling them he was going to “bang them out”.

Emily Gourley, for Perkins, said he was in drink and did it because he was cold, wet and felt like harming himself.

“He has been homeless for two or three years, and is living in a tent,” Mrs Gourley said.

“Some time ago, he pleaded guilty to an offence of arson, and this has made it very difficult to find housing. That night, he was so cold and wet that it was a desperate situation.”

The court heard that Perkins is engaging with mental health services and that work to find suitable housing is ongoing.

He received a nine-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £21 victim surcharge.