A MAN has admitted to a terrifying string of violent episodes towards his elderly mother – including threats to cut her windpipe, throwing a hammer at her, and kill her and her pet cat.

Craig Owen, from Llangollen, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Friday via video link from HMP Altcourse for a hearing ahead of being sentenced for the string of violent incidents against his elderly mother, Molly Owen.

Owen, 48, changed his initial not guilty plea and admitted that, between June 1 and August 15, he caused his 80-year-old mother to fear that violence would be used against her on numerous occasions.

The prosecutor, Miss Sarah Badrawy, told the courtroom the list of incidents that Mrs Owen was subjected to by her son - which included having a meat cleaver held to her throat with threats of cutting her windpipe, striking her with a hammer that he had thrown, removing her phone from her, as well as making threats to kill her and her cat. The court was also told that Owen had also been telling his mother to leave the house so that he could bring prostitutes to the family home.

There were further admissions of Owen acting aggressively towards the 80-year-old, as well as verbal abuse and cohesive behaviour.

The defence, Mr James Coutts, told the hearing that Owen was ‘a vulnerable man’ himself who ‘had his own difficulties’ since his last custodial sentence including the breakdown of a relationship which led him to living with his mother as her carer and turning to alcohol frequently.

Judge Niclas Parry said that Owen “had the good sense to plead guilty” and adjourned the case in order to draw up a full pre-sentence report.

Owen will be sentenced on Thursday, October 10.