A PLASTERER accused by an ex-work colleague of stealing the wheels from his van responded with a text warning him he was a dead man and advising his to say his goodbyes, Swindon Magistrates' Court heard.

Karl Mercer was angry that Norton Hughes had accused him of the theft and gone round to his partner’s home demanding the return of the wheels, Tuesday’s hearing was told.

Mercer, 29, of Fairholme Way, had denied a charge of sending a threatening message to Mr Hughes but the case was proved in his absence by Chippenham magistrates on August 15.

His solicitor, Emma Thacker, explained to the Swindon bench that he had failed to turn up to the trial because he had been given confused dates and times in letters from her firm, for which they accepted responsibility.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert said Mr Hughes had received a message suggesting Mercer was responsible for the theft on January 22, which cost him a day’s work.

He texted Mercer saying: “Enjoy the wheels mate.”

Then he went round to Mercer’s partner’s house and told her Mercer needed to return the wheels or he would be back.

He then received threatening texts.

She said Mercer told police his partner had miscarried their baby the day after Mr Hughes’ visit and he was upset.

In a victim impact statement Mr Hughes said he was worried about repercussions and was on medication.

Miss Thacker, defending, said the pair, both plasterers, had been friends but had not seen each other for a long time. Then out of the blue Mercer had received the text about the wheels.

He was arrested but there was no further action because he had nothing to do with the theft.

She said Mr Hughes’ visit was “not simply a case of knocking on the door. The gentleman was very aggressive.”

Mercer’s partner, who was three months pregnant, called the police.

The following day she was taken to hospital and lost her baby.

“Everything had been normal up to that point. They were distraught,” said Miss Thacker.

“It is fair to say those messages were sent when he was in a state of distress.”

Mercer had called police himself because he had received text messages since the incident, from different numbers, but he had not responded.

He had been out of trouble for the past three years and was trying to knuckle down and work to support his family.

“All he wants to do is go to work, earn money for his family and lead a quiet life,” she said.

The magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £620 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.