A homeless drunk spent a day in the cells after telling a pregnant shop boss he hoped she would crash her car.

Matthew Love, 48, sleeps in the porch of St Philips and St James Church in Alderley Edge and police say he pesters residents when he is drunk.

Love told Co-op manager Rachel Stanway he hoped she crashed on the way home as she left work last week.

At Macclesfield magistrates court, he admitted  using threatening words to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He was  ordered to remain in custody for the day.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said:  “Rachel has become familiar with Matthew and has had issues when he tries to buy alcohol and is abusive when refused sale.

“When she walked to her car after work she saw him leaning on the wall and as she walked past she said hello.

“He said ‘don’t speak to me, everyone hates you, I hope you crash on your way home and the steering wheel goes through you’.

“Rachel remembered she needed milk and walked back into the Co-op and when she came out he repeated the words.

“She found this alarming and was distressed, especially as she is pregnant and in a public place.

“She is anxious about Matthew now when she is working and thinks he might damage her car.”

Love was also abusive to the officer who arrested him on London Road the next day.

John Temperley,  defending, said:  “He’s been an alcoholic for many years and was intoxicated when this happened.

“He has no recollection of using the words but can’t deny it.

“He has been homeless since he was released from prison last year and has health problems, including significant hearing problems.

“He wants to apologise for what happened.”

A police application for an anti-social behaviour order against  Love will be heard in court on May 20.

Village PCSO Jim Newns said after the hearing: “We have been conscious of Mr Love affecting the local community and done all we can to solve the problem.”