'You could see the hate in his eyes' - dad-of-two, aged 18, scares children at contact centre

A furious teenage dad frightened parents and children at a contact centre after being denied a chance to see his own two children. Emanuel Radu, 18, had been banned from St Andrew's Contact Centre, near Leicester Royal Infirmary, because of an earlier incident in which he had also become aggressive, a court heard.

The previous incident happened on Tuesday, February 27, when the teenager, who does not speak English, became angry during a visit to meet his two children while speaking with an interpreter who was there to help him. Richard Holt, prosecuting, told Leicester Magistrates' Court on Monday: "He became aggressive.

"He stated to the interpreter that he would kill him, in addition to a number of horrible and vulgar comments. This was said in front of children."

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Radu was told he could not attend for his session the following day and he stated three times that he would burn the building down before leaving. The incident that led to his arrest happened six days later, and also happened in front of adults and children.

He returned to the centre on Monday, March 4, hoping to see his children again but he was told he could not because he was banned from the centre. He began banging his fists on the safety window at the reception desk and then told the staff, "I can break this," before spitting on the window, punching it three times and headbutting it twice, cracking it.

He then told a female staff member, "Come outside, I will kill you," pointing at her throat. In a statement from the woman that was read out in court, she said: "I was very intimidated and I'm not intimidated easily.

"You could see the hate in his eyes. I found him quite frightening because I believed he was capable of causing us harm.

"I found him one of the most frightening men I've ever encountered. Vulnerable parents were frightened of how he was acting."

Jagvir Sangherra, representing Radu, of Cavendish Road, off Saffron Lane in Leicester, said: "He does not really understand English. He has issues with his expression of emotion."

He said Radu, who had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence, was keen to see his children again and was taking steps to be allowed.

The case was adjourned for the probation service to report on Radu and he was banned from returning to the contact centre. The sentencing will take place on Monday, July 1, back at Leicester Magistrates' Court.