A DAD from Worcester who admits inflicting grievous bodily harm had his sentence adjourned, leading to an angry exclamation from the court's public gallery.

Joseph Roberts, aged 27, of Drake Avenue, Dines Green, Worcester, had already admitted section 18 wounding following a glassing incident against George Charteris but the sentence could not go ahead.

The particulars of the offence are that on November 10 last year he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Mr Charteris with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

However, he could not be sentenced as planned at Worcester Crown Court on Friday after Roberts's barrister, Jamie Scott, said a pre-sentence report had not been prepared by the probation service.

Mr Scott said his client had been 'oblivious' an appointment had been made, arranged for him by the probation service, even though a letter had been sent to his house.

Mr Scott told judge Jim Tindal: "It's a shared house and he didn't receive the the post."

Judge Tindal said he could see the need for a pre-sentence report even if the defendant bore a degree of responsibility for the report not being prepared and said he was prepared to adjourn which led to someone swearing in the public gallery.

Judge Jim Tindal said: "That seemed to be someone swearing at the back of the court. I don't know if they fancy a few hours in the cells?"

However, he said he understood the 'considerable' delay in the case 'may be the reason for the expletive'.

The judge adjourned sentence until December 21 and asked Roberts to speak to a probation officer for the preparation of the pre-sentence report.

Roberts was described in a previous court hearing as a father-of-three in full time work.