A man who accused his former business partner of pocketing over £2,000 in cash, then made threatening telephone calls to him, a court heard this week.

Twenty-five-year-old Nathan May claimed that his business partner, Mr. Andrew Francis Beddis had staged a break-in to his car when the cash was stolen, magistrates sitting in Tenby were told on Tuesday.

May, of Bedrock, Begelly had accompanied Mr. Beddis to Haverfordwest on February 2.

They parked at Withybush Industrial Estate, but when they returned to the car it had been broken into and CDs, a CD player and camera had been stolen.

"More importantly to this case of the misuse of the telecom system, £2,150 was also stolen," crown prosecutor, Peter Lloyd told the court.

The money had been the 'fruit' of a car sale and was to be shared jointly between May and Mr. Beddis.

May accused Mr. Beddis of 'stagging the break in' and 'fabricating the allegations' that the items had been stolen.

"In essence he claimed Mr. Beddis had taken the money to pocket the lot himself," Mr. Lloyd said.

A complaint was made to the police about the break in and although a full investigation commenced, no action was taken by the police .

"There was no evidence that Mr. Beddis acted in such a way," Mr. Lloyd pointed out.

"However, that was not good enough for Mr. May who then made a series of phone calls that were menacing and disturbing to Mr. Beddis," the prosecutor continued.

Mr. Beddis, found the 'phone calls which were made between February 7 and May 5 'extremely frightening and concerning,'.

On several occasions, May made threats to kill Mr. Beddis, who feared that the threats would be carried out.

On April 13, May, who is now in temporary employment, left three messages on Mr. Beddis' voicemail.

"He was obviously drunk and by the background noise he made the phone call from a public house," Mr. Lloyd told the magistrates.

"He again made threats to kill, but what is more disturbing is that on May 5, the defendant made a phone call to Mr. Beddis threatening to shoot him and run his wife, Penny, over," he pointed out.

"Mr. Beddis was extremely concerned about the threat against his wife and, in fact, he believed that it may be carried out," he added.

Mr. Beddis made a complaint to the police and May was subsequently arrested. During interview he denied the menacing nature of the calls, but was unable to deny the calls made on the voicemail.

"He said he was drunk and didn't intend carrying any of the threats out," Mr. Lloyd added.

Representing May, his solicitor, Christopher Taylor told the court that there was a 'substantial history' to the matter.

"He accepted he made the calls on the voicemail system," Mr. Taylor said.

May found the car break-in which was the 'catalyst to the animosity' extremely suspicious, his solicitor continued.

As a result the partnership was dissolved and civil proceedings against Mr. Beddis have now been started by the defendant regarding a vehicle May maintained was his, but had been disposed of by the complainant.

Mr. Taylor also claimed that when May's father handed the civil papers to Mr. Beddis he was 'assaulted and punched'.

"To rub salt into the wounds the police decided not to deal with the matter," he pointed out.

"He deeply regrets the incidents," Mr. Taylor said.

"He acknowledges that he was under a lot of pressure, but he should have exercised a greater degree of self control.

"He is sorry for his actions, but was letting off steam due to the pressure he was under.

"He feels he has been punished already by the pressure of these proceedings have placed upon him," added Mr. Taylor, who asked for credit to be given to May for entering an early guilty plea.

May, who admitted improper use of the telecom system, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £40 costs.