A Swindon man admitted to assaulting a victim and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to two cars.

James Murdoch appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning after pleading guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.

The 38-year-old from Walter Close grabbed a man around the throat on September 18, 2023, and smashed another victim's vehicles with a hammer on May 17, 2023.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, explained that at around 5pm, the victim went outside to have a cigarette while visiting his mother and was then approached by Murdoch, who was visiting his own parents' house.

The court heard that, since the two men do not get along, the victim tried to go back inside and ignore the defendant, who was trying to speak to him.

One comment cut through and led to a disagreement. Murdoch "grabbed [the victim] around the throat, swung him around and said 'wait until I see you, I'm going to kill you'".

The pair separated and the victim suffered no injuries.

On May 18, the owner of two Vauxhalls noticed while on the way to work that one had a hammer dent in the bonnet and smashed headlights while the other had similar hammer marks on the bonnet as well as a cracked licence plate.

He reviewed home CCTV which captured a man with a hammer walking past his address the night before and causing the damage.

After being arrested, Murdoch admitted to grabbing his assault victim but denied being the figure in the video footage, claiming that he had been at work at the time, but later pleaded guilty.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said that his client was remorseful and showed regret and embarrassment about his actions.

He added: "The victim had made him agitated and he saw red. He acted out of character. There was ongoing grief about his daughter and a provocation resulted in him acting this way."

Murdoch has one previous conviction for assault by beating which brought him before the courts on April 17, 2014 - his latest court appearance took place almost exactly 10 years later.

He received a 12-month community order that requires him to carry out 12 sessions of mental health treatment and up to 15 rehabilitation activity days as well as pay a £100 fine and £85 in court costs plus £114 to fund victim services.