A MAN who admitted headbutting and harassing his former partner also faced court for a knife offence on Crewe Station.

Zac Cotton bombarded his victim, Holly Ashcroft, with over 100 phone calls and tried to get her to drop charges after he had attacked her in February this year, South Cheshire Magistrates' Court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Green said that Ms Ashcroft phoned police to report Cotton for assaulting her the previous evening. He had grabbed his ex by the arm and headbutted her at her home in Holmes Chapel.

But over a three-day period Cotton made over 100 calls and messaged his victim suggesting he would harm himself.

"She [Ms Ashcroft] received calls where he [Cotton] threatened to kill her friends and family and asked her to drop charges," said Mr Green.

"He made a large number of calls and he sent her an email in which he said he would take an overdose, while he also sent her an image of an empty tablet packet. He messaged her Instagram account to such an extent that she took herself off social media to avoid contact."

Cotton, 23, formerly of Stalbridge Road, Crewe, appeared in custody for the court hearing at which he opted to change his previous pleas ahead of a trial and admitted charges of assaulting his former partner by beating on February 15 this year and between September 30 and November 1 last year.

At a previous hearing Cotton admitted intimidating a witness, sending a threatening message and harassing Ms Ashcroft in that he made telephone calls that were threatening in nature, with all the offences committed during February this year.

The defendant also admitted possessing a knife blade on January 22 this year.

He was arrested by British Transport Police officers who spotted him rolling a joint on Crewe Station. They found he was carrying two bags of spice, one in his coat pocket and the other concealed in his sock.

Cotton told police he had a craft knife on him and officers seized it and the drugs.

Solicitor Stuart Flood said Cotton had become addicted to spice, initially while he was in prison, and that he had lacked support.

"It's a situation which has progressively gone from bad to worse, although he has been out of trouble for a while," said Mr Flood.

The solicitor noted that Cotton had been contacted by his victim by email while he was in prison and he added: "You do have to question the situation, but he has accepted the assault."

Magistrates ruled their sentencing powers were insufficient and ordered Cotton attend Chester Crown Court to be sentenced on May 4.