A MAN who spat at people and threatened to set fire to a woman’s property has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work by magistrates.

At Wigan Magistrates’ Court Scott Holt, aged 38, of Birch Tree Way, Horwich, pleaded guilty to committing the offences and harassing a couple on August 15 last year.

He was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay his assault victims a total of £300 in compensation. A restraining order was made banning him from contacting them and he must also participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities and pay £728 in costs and charges.

Magistrates told him: “Both assaults involved spitting, and in the current climate such behaviour is irresponsible and appalling.

“The threats to damage caused the victim real upset and anxiety.”