A Kidderminster man who racially abused a woman in front of her children and damaged her car has been jailed at Worcester Crown Court.

The effect on the mother-of-three had been so great that she has moved to another town, said Recorder William Edis QC.

Simon Lander had used vile language in an attempt to deter her partner from giving evidence against him for driving whilst disqualified.

Lander, aged 37, of Winchat Close, Spennells, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated criminal damage to the woman's car and witness intimidation.

He also admitted stealing five bags of coal from Wigleys Do it Yourself in Stourport and the theft of six jackets worth £640 from M & Co in Stourport.

He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.

Martin Butterworth, mitigating, said Lander was ashamed of behaving in such a disgraceful way in front of the children. He had a seven-year-old daughter of his own. Although he had a bad record, his last serious conviction was in 2003.

He had a long-standing addiction to class A drugs but had managed to get clean for five years.

Unfortunately there had been a relapse and this had caused him to carry out the thefts, mainly to get money for drugs.

The recorder jailed Lander for a total of 37 months and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.

He said witness intimidation could not be tolerated and was a serious crime and a threat to the criminal justice system.