A 44-year-old who was cleared of murdering a man in a Wymondham supermarket chased and threatened the victim's friend into a pub less than a week later, a court has heard.

John Monk, 44, got out of a car and shouted abuse at Leo Wardrop, who had been walking towards the Queen's Head pub in Wymondham on Boxing Day last year.

The incident came just days after Monk had been cleared of murdering Nick Rogers following an attack in Morrisons in Wymondham on July 17 last year.

Monk was also found not guilty of a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to Mr Wardrop on the same date.

But Norwich Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday (January 30) that on December 26 after getting out of the car and shouting abuse he chased a 'scared' Mr Wardrop into the pub.

The victim found his parents in the pub and told them what had happened.

The court heard the victim was so scared following the recent court case that he did not want to go out as he was worried what might happen to him.

Monk, formerly of Albini Way, Wymondham, but now of Norwich Road, Hingham, appeared in court where he admitted one count of threatening behaviour.

He also admitted a separate offence of possessing a mobile phone in Norwich Prison, on September 26 last year.

The defendant, who wore a blue hooded top, also admitted a series of motoring offences which happened on Chapel Lane, Wymondham, on May 18 last year.

They included two offences of driving a car with a proportion of a specified controlled drug, namely cocaine and benzoylecgonine, above the specified limit.

Guilty pleas were also entered by Monk to charges of driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, not wearing a seatbelt, driving with no insurance, using a vehicle with tyre cord exposed and having defective brakes

Lucy Brakewell, mitigating for Monk, said the threat offered by her client was minimal.

She said he heard words, got out of the car and repeated them.

Mrs Brakewell admitted he should not have said the words, which were 'nasty', or followed the victim.

She said he got to the door of the pub and thought 'idiot' and turned away.

She said in interview he admitted to police he should not have done what he did.

She said he said 'I've let my legal team down, my family and everyone down - I'm so sorry.'

Mrs Brakewell said it showed the remorse shown by her client, who had admitted all the other matters.

The court heard Monk had been on remand for five months before being acquitted at the crown court.

Mrs Brakewell said it had been a very traumatic time for all concerned.

She said he was thought to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, unable to sleep or work and with his reputation in tatters.

She said his daughter had cried herself to sleep after being called a 'murderer's child' at school.

Monk was ordered to pay Mr Wardrop £100 in compensation for the threatening behaviour.

For possession of the phone in prison he was given seven weeks custody, suspended for 12 months.

Monk was also fined £220 for drug driving and disqualified for 12 months.

He was fined £200 for having no insurance and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

Following a trial at Norwich Crown Court John's nephew Lee Monk, 20, was found guilty of manslaughter. But like his uncle, Lee was found not guilty of a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to Mr Wardrop.

Lee Monk will be sentenced on Thursday ( February 1).