Malmesbury man James Watts bombarded his estranged wife Marion with abusive phone calls and text messages, screamed abuse at her in public, threw stones at her and tried to kick down the door of the hostel where she was staying, a court heard.

Watts, 41, pleaded guilty to harassing his wife, and also to failing to attend a previous court hearing.

CPS solicitor Colin Meere told Chippenham Magistrates Court that Mrs Watts left her husband early this year because of his violent behaviour, and moved in to the women's refuge in Chippenham together with her nine year-old daughter.

Magistrates heard that after Mrs Watts left, her husband constantly called her and sent text messages calling her a "slag" and a "whore" over two months, until March 23, 2003.

Watts began screaming abuse at her when she was at the Chippenham Olympiad leisure centre and as she ran to her car he threw pebbles at her.

The court also heard that Watts, a self employed carpenter, behaved so aggressively when he was refused entry to the women's refuge that staff called the police.

Michael Wells, defending, told the court that Mr Watts was upset because his wife had left him but that the couple were now getting on much better.

Watts was fined £10 for the missing court appearance, and given unconditional bail while pre-sentence reports are prepared.