A highly respected Wimbledon Village resident has pleaded guilty to destroying a woman's underwear and cutting her hair during a passion fuelled argument after their relationship turned sour.

Lingerie worth up to £500 was destroyed by Paul Capra, 59, of Belvedere Road in a fight with fellow village resident Margo Hails that brought an end to their eight-year relationship.

The court heard Mr Capra had bought the underwear for her.

Charges of assault were dropped against Mr Capra.

The property developer will be sentenced on May 12 for criminal damage at Wimbledon Magistrates court on Tuesday.

The court heard how an argument broke out between the couple after 50-year-old Mrs Hails accused Mr Capra of cheating on him.

As blood poured from Mr Capra’s head from a minor wound caused during the scuffle, the 59-year cut off a substantial chunk of Mrs Hail’s hair with the scissors earlier used to destroy her underwear, the court heard.

In a victim impact statement read to magistrates, Mrs Hails said: “I don’t want to face him, I’m scared of him and I haven’t seen him since. I feel my confidence has gone down.

“I’ve bought a pair of sunglasses to hide behind and I’ve had to have my hair restyled.”

The court heard how the couple would enjoy each other’s company in a Wimbledon Hill Road flat, rented by Mr Capra while they were both away from family homes elsewhere in Wimbledon.

Mr Capra’s defence lawyer, Mr Kendall, told the court: “Anybody who knew him would not have believed he would have come before a criminal court.

“We are relieved that the charge in its amended form has been brought before the court.

"The experience of coming here has been particularly shameful and one he never wishes to repeat.”

Mr Kendall added the couple had intended to leave their respective spouses and be husband and wife, but even though it was promised, nothing ever transpired.