A TEIGNMOUTH man used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour against three women.

Christopher John Deane, aged 39, of Fraser Drive, Teignmouth West, appeared before South and West Devon Magistrates' Court.

He changed his plea to guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause one woman harassment alarm or distress. He denied a further similar charge against her and that the offence was racially aggravated, but he was found guilty of that.

Deane changed his plea to guilty of charges against two other women of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment alarm or distress.

He also changed his plea to guilty to a charge that at Newton Abbot Community Hospital he caused a nuisance or disturbance to a National Health Service staff member and refused, without reasonable excuse to leave the premises when asked.

The court adjourned the case until May 25for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.