A policeman's wife fought back tears as she told how she was harassed and threatened by a man her husband had arrested.

The man called at Tracey Curry's home in Brighton looking for her husband, Inspector Steve Curry, and later daubed menacing graffiti in a nearby playground, Brighton magistrates heard.

The graffiti said: "PC Curry's wife is a dead slut. R.I.P." Another said: "PC Curry's kids are gay" and a third said: "PC Curry's wife is a whore on crack."

Mrs Curry said her young son found out about the daubings and asked her after school what a dead slut was.

She said: "He told me, 'that's what one boy said you are'. He is only seven and I think that is awful."

Mrs Curry said she was scared, nervous and angry.

Benjamin Adsett, 19, of Old London Road, Patcham, Brighton, denies harassment and two charges of causing criminal damage with graffiti.

Harry Oliver, prosecuting, said the newly promoted inspector was running a Hallowe'en event for children on October 31 last year when he arrested Adsett after an unrelated incident.

Mr Oliver said the defendant told Mr Curry: "Do you know who the f*** I am? I will f****** do you."

A few days later Mr Curry found all his car windows had been daubed with 'A' in white paint.

The prosecution claims on November 5 Adsett called at the officer's address and asked his wife if he was home. She did not open the door and spoke through a window.

Mrs Curry said she was nervous because of what had happened and because it was dark. She told the man Mr Curry was not home and he left.

Mrs Curry said her husband had been stressed by his car being daubed and he told her the man responsible was the one he had arrested on the day of the Hallowe'en event.

Mr Oliver said police later arrested Adsett and during a search of his flat found a can of green spray paint and documents for handwriting analysis.

Lawrence Whitehead, an expert in paint comparisons, said there was moderate to strong evidence to suggest the graffiti came from the can.

Mr Curry said the harassment distressed his wife: "It affects you and your home life. The graffiti was in a playground where my children and others play. My son came home from school in tears."

Cross-examined by Jonathan Edwards, defending, Mr Curry, commended for making 100 arrests in a year, said: "I have arrested people for murder and drug offences and no one has ever made a specific threat about me and my family, not even anonymously."

The trial continues.