Leg broken in filmed fraud plot

A Devon man broke his girlfriend's leg in a bid to defraud a local authority, a court has heard.

Gordon Thomson, 32, from Southway, Plymouth, pleaded guilty at the city's Crown Court to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard Mr Thomson suffered from mental health problems and used a mobile phone to film himself jumping on Elizabeth Hingston's leg last October.

Sentencing was adjourned for reports until 21 December.

Robert Linford, defending, told the court Thomson had issues of paranoia and potential paranoid schizophrenia.

He said the incident was a one-off and caused by Miss Hingston and Mr Thomson getting together in a bid to carry out fraud on a local authority.

He told the court the incident was recorded on a mobile phone.

Mr Linford told the court: "The defendant recognises there has to be an immediate custodial term for this offence.

"He clearly has mental health problems."