A HOMELESS man who was “trying to start fights” at a city pub while drunk, pleaded with magistrates for help for what he believes is post-traumatic stress disorder.

Paul Lewis, 35, admitted to charges being drunk and disorderly in public when appearing before magistrates on Thursday.

The court heard how staff at the Slug & Lettuce, on The Cross, Worcester, reported an “aggressive drunken man trying to start fights” in the pub to police around 11pm on February 23.

Officers took Lewis back to St Paul’s Hostel, on Tallow Hill, where he is staying, but was then arrested after refusing to go inside, explained prosecutor Collette Orton.

She said CCTV showed the defendant “shouting and swearing and trying to start fights with members of the public” in the pub.

On being taken to the hostel by police, Mrs Orton said Lewis “left police vehicle and immediately began walking back towards the main road”.

When police tried to direct him back towards St Paul’s, he became aggressive, she said, swearing at them and shouting, “don’t you do that again”.

Lewis, who is missing his left hand, represented himself in court, and said doctors have told him he may have PTSD following an accident 11 years ago.

He told the court he was “very sorry” for the offence, but said he is “not finding it easy living at St Paul’s”.

“I understand that I might have upset a few people that night. Perhaps I went a bit angry and was taking it out on other people. I was stupid.”

He went on to explain: “I am trying to cover up that I have got one hand and I am turning towards drink to cover it up.

“I shouldn’t be doing that. Living at the hostel, I am trying to get out of there. I feel like I am going mad. I seem to be disturbing everyone else living there.”

The court heard Lewis has no family in the area and used to be a DJ and a mechanic before the accident but has struggled to get work and now claims Jobseekers Allowance.

“I would love to have a normal life where I can go around town and everyone didn’t jump on me,” he said.

He said he had “got beaten up” on the night in question and believed “that was probably why” he had committed the offence.

“I try to do my best,” he added, explaining that he has “tried Swanswell and I don’t know what else I can do”.

“I would like some help,” he said.

Simon Freebairn, chair of the bench, said: “We can’t promise what the future holds for you. But we can try to help. It seems alcohol keeps getting you into trouble.”

“I do have some sympathy with your cause, [but] we can’t excuse what happened.”

“You have identified that alcohol is the cause. But you should not take it out on other people. Go and see your GP because we want to keep you sober and keep away from court.

“Good luck and go and get help and let’s not see you again.”

Lewis was fined £100.