AN Aberystwyth man who laughed when he held a razor against his partner’s throat thought it was funny to see how scared she was, a court heard.

Steven Shane Worrall, 29, admitted two assaults on Caryl James, one on 15 August and the second on 22 August after changing his pleas just days before a trial was due to be held on 10 December.

Kevin Challinor, prosecuting, said Worrall and Ms James were in a relationship, but on 15 August the couple had gone out and got into an argument.

While Ms James had gone and went to sleep, Worrall had stayed out, but returned in the early hours of the morning.

When he walked into the bedroom, Worrall pushed Ms James in the chest forcing her down onto the bed, but then headbutted her to her forehead.

He then shouted and swore at Ms James before telling her his head was “messed up”. Mr Challinor said that when Ms James told him he needed to speak to someone he pulled out a razor which Mr Challinor said was “a Stanley knife type” before holding it to Ms James’s neck.

Worrall then started laughing saying that he thought it was funny that Ms James was so scared.

Mr Challinor said Ms James suffered bruising to her forehead and chest in the incident.

A week later, Worrall then grabbed Ms James around her neck and started squeezing after an argument between the two when Worrall came home in the early hours of the morning and was asleep downstairs.

Defence solicitor Iestyn Davies said the couple’s relationship had been under strain which had been worsened when Worrall, of 31 Third Avenue in Penparcau, lost his job.

Mr Davies said that Worrall had “turned to cocaine as a coping mechanism” but that made things worse.

He said Worrall doesn’t really remember the two assaults, but accepted Ms James’s evidence. Mr Davies said Worrall had initially pleaded not guilty as he had been facing other charges as well, but they had been dropped.

Mr Davies added: “He is thoroughly ashamed of these events. He’s very, very embarrassed to be here and is very sorry.”

Worrall had voluntarily sought help from different agencies and had now found work in the Thames Valley which saw him work away all week and return to Aberystwyth at weekends.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing Worrall to allow a pre-sentence report to be completed.

He was released on conditional bail by magistrates until 6 January.