A MAN who was caught trying to dishonestly obtain alcohol from a city pub broke both of his ankles when he jumped from a bathroom window.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard how Neil Dumford, aged 26, of the YMCA, Henwick Road, St John's, Worcester, had bought £36.40 of drinks using a credit card in someone else's name in the Coach and Horses, Upper Tything, Worcester, on Wednesday, April 5.

He made a run for it when the card was rejected after he tried to settle the bill - but he came unstuck.

Mark Soper, prosecuting, said Dumford had applied for the credit card on-line in the name of one of his acquaintances, Royston Jones.

"He used it on various occasions, mainly in the Coach and Horses," he added.

"When he came to settle the bill it was refused. When questioned, he jumped out from the first floor window but couldn't escape as he broke both his ankles."

Paul Stanley, defending, said all the purchases made on the card had been of low value.

He added: "What he was doing was not particularly sophisticated. Albeit serious, this was low on the scale in terms of sophistication."

Vilija Baukiate, manager of the Coach and Horses, said she remembered the incident well as she had been the one to serve Dumford.

She said: "When the card was rejected he said he'd go and get another form of payment. But he rushed upstairs into the private flat and jumped out of the bathroom window.

"Two men then came into the pub and said they'd seen what happened, and ran after him. We realised he was injured and then had to call an ambulance."

Ms Baukiate said the staff were now very vigilant about credit card crime.

The case against Dumford was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be made and he will reappear in court on Thursday, September 14.

Dumford, who admitted one charge of dishonestly obtaining alcohol and another of being in possession of a credit card in the name of Royston Jones, was released on conditional bail.