A man has been handed a suspended sentence for threatening to hit his neighbour and repeatedly screaming "you disabled b****" in her face after she tried to enter his house when she thought she could hear a woman crying.

Lukas Zilevicius, 22, was handed a 19-week prison sentence which was suspended for 18 months for the "nasty" use of threats after returning from the pub in Presteigne on March 10.

He pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour which would cause harassment, alarm or distress to Sarah Williams.

Prosecutor Helen Hall told Welshpool Magistrates' Court that after Ms Williams "flung open the door", Zilevicius shouted at her with "such anger and venom that she couldn't actually fully describe the anger in his voice".

Zilevicius shouted "who are you to bang on my door", and started firing insults at Ms Williams who then asked where his partner was.

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Ms Hall said: "The defendant was getting closer and closer and more incensed. A witness stepped between the pair because he was screaming within an inch of her face. The complainant moved towards her property."

She said Zilevicius threatened to hit her, and repeatedly used slurs relating to disabilities, adding: "Come on all of you, call the police. You don't know who you are messing with."

Zilevicius was seen pacing and screaming along Hereford Street before police officers arrived.

The victim, who says she has been diagnosed with chronic anxiety and depression, said in a statement read out in court by the prosecutor that the incident has had a "knock-on effect on her health" and does not want to leave the house or her garden. She added that she often feels low and anxious "to the point I have been shaking".

The court was told that Zilevicius had recently completed a 12-month community order in May for attacking a man in broad-daylight. He had already had a suspended sentence for actual bodily harm and had four convictions for battery, including assaulting an emergency worker.

Geraint Parry, representing Zilevicius, said his client accepts he was drunk and there was not a domestic incident with his partner, who was in court for support.

"This is a one-off incident," Mr Parry said.

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"He accepts it was unpleasant, and very unkind words were said. When he said 'disabled b****', he says they were throwaway comments and he was intoxicated at the time.

"He's still young and maturing. He has been in and out of the criminal justice system since he was a young boy, and he had a troubled upbringing.

"He's truly remorseful. He didn't look for trouble. It's something he's unfortunately been brought up with."

The magistrates' decided not to go with the probation service's recommendation of just a community order.

Stephen Pembroke, chair, said: "In fact it was so serious because of your recent convictions, reference to disability and threats made, alcohol was prevalent and pattern of offending and you were on a community order, the custody threshold is passed and therefore taking into account your age, and lack of maturity and guilty plea we are going to give you 19 weeks in custody and we are going to suspend that for 18 months."

Zilevicius, of Hereford Street, Presteigne, was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days to address his impulsivity and consequential thinking, 80 hours of unpaid work, pay £85 court costs and £154 victim surcharge.

The Presteigne St Andrews FC player and Tyrrells factory worker must also pay £200 in compensation to Ms Williams, and he must not contact or go near her or house for the next 18 months.