A THUG who bit a police officer had to be removed from the dock for attacking a guard and disrupting the court.

Shane Hodgkins, aged 20, of Summer Road, Kidderminster, bit PC Matt Jones on his inside thigh during the attack, whilst he was in police custody in Worcester on Tuesday.

The court heard Hodgkins, who was wanted on recall to prison for breaching the terms of his licence, also damaged the door and window of a West Mercia Police car after he was arrested following an incident in Wren Avenue and Elgar Avenue, Malvern, on Monday, August 6.

Tim Talbot-Webb, prosecuting, said Hodgkins was “aggressive” and “abusive” whilst he was in the vehicle.

“He kicked the rear side window and bend the right side door,” he said.

He added that the damage to the door had left it “useable”.

The court heard Hodgkins had targeted Western Post UK Ltd in Kidderminster on five occasions, with Johnathan Biddle, 21, of Clent Mews, Kidderminster, each time the pair had made off with boxes, containing about £30 to £80 worth of furniture, sometimes carrying out the thefts more than once in the same day.

Mr Talbot-Webb said Hodgkins had been caught carrying out the burglaries on CCTV.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage, assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty, theft and five counts of burglary.

Speaking to the court, Hodgkins said: “I did every single one and I loved it.”

He added: “I’ll see you in a couple of years when I get out of jail.”

During the hearing, Hodgkins started attacking a prison guard and was taken away from the dock.

Defending, Sabhia Pathan, said: “The man in court today was not the same as the man I talked to outside.”

He was remanded in custody to appear at Worcester Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday, September 5.

Hodgkins was released from HMP Brinsford, Staffordshire, on April 10 this year after serving a sentence for a number of offences including burglary.