LONDON // Jurors in the trial of Philip Spence on Thursday heard that he had previously tried to batter his former landlord with a hammer after arguing about rent.

On November 13, 2007, the man who attacked three Emirati sisters with a hammer in a London hotel threatened his landlord in Walthamstow, northeast London.

Spence, 32, became abusive, snatched a hammer from his landlord’s bag and chased him. He then started to batter a door with the hammer, smashing the glass panels to try to get to his victim.

After briefly leaving the building, Spence returned to attack the door for a second time.

In another example of his uncontrollable rage, Southwark Crown Court heard that he became furious after a man he met on an online dating website refused to meet him in person.

Spence launched into a tirade of abuse down the telephone to “Mr Pasquarelli”. On one occasion, which was overheard by police, Spence threatened to stab and kill his victim. He later admitted breaking into the victim’s house on Peckham Grove and was sentenced for burglary and sending menacing messages in September 2010.

The violent thug also attacked strangers as they walked past him in the street. On April 15 2011 Spence was walking along Conway Street, central London, when he kicked a box at a pedestrian and spat at him.

Spence then punched the victim and bit him on his left shoulder.

On May 18 2011, he launched a verbal assault on staff at a care home for the homeless where he was living. He thew a glass of water, which smashed against a wall, and shouted he would “f--k [them] up”. He was sentenced for affray on June 26 2011.

Just over two years later, Spence was in trouble with the law again after he attempted to burgle a recruitment building in west London. He was found hiding in toilets after police chased him off the premises.

The court heard that Spence has racked up multiple convictions for burglary, with his first brush with the law in 2003 for burglary of a dwelling.

In June 2004 he notched up further sentences for burglary and battery. By February 24 2006 Spence was sentenced for three offences of burglary commercial premises and attempted burglary. A year later he was sentenced for visiting Islington Borough Council offices, north London, and yelling about problems with his accommodation. He shouted “you will deal with this!” to a female member of staff. He then punched her in the face, causing her to lose consciousness. She was rushed to hospital after waking with serious head pain.

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