A man smashed a courtroom screen as he was convicted of raping his ex-girlfriend.
The 29-year-old’s outburst came as the jury had returned a guilty verdict at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday.
In a previous hearing, the man had pleaded guilty to raping his mother and threatening her with a screwdriver. When convicted, the judge adjourned proceedings for sentencing.
As Judge Elizabeth Nicholls warned that he could face a longer sentence, he stood up and turned to face his ex-girlfriend in the public gallery and began shouting obscenities.
He had then attempted to climb over the glass barrier while standing on a chair, which resulted in the barrier shattering sending shards of glass across the dock.
Two dock officers intervened and a policeman entered the dock to prevent him from attacking the woman, who was escorted out of the courtroom by a detective.
The jury had found the man guilty on three counts of assault that caused actual bodily-harm, rape and sexual assault.
Judge Nicholls has agreed to adjourn the case in preparation of a psychiatric report as a result of the shocking outburst at Liverpool’s Crown Court.
He has been remanded in custody until later this year when he will be sentenced.