A HOMELESS man who ‘went completely mad’ in a Worcester pub found himself back inside within 24 hours of his release from prison.

David Pace swore and tried to punch and headbutt staff at a Worcester pub, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Before the hearing, the 54-year-old had already been convicted of assault by beating, breaching a criminal behaviour order and attempting to possess a drug of class A (heroin).

Richard Davenport, prosecuting, said the incident occurred at the Slug and Lettuce at The Cross in Worcester at around 11.55pm on December 7 last year.

Mr Davenport said: “He (Pace) was being aggressive and swearing at other customers. He was asked to leave but refused to move.”

He was escorted out of the bar area. Mr Davenport said: “At that stage he went completely mad. He tried to headbutt and punch a member of staff, hitting him to the right hand side of his mouth. He was restrained.”

Other door staff restrained Pace as he continued to try to fight them, actions which placed him in breach of a criminal behaviour order, imposed on September 6 last year.

The order places various controls on his behaviour, including prohibiting him from being verbally abusive, from behaving in an aggressive and intimidating manner and from being in possession of an open vessel containing alcohol in Worcester.

Mr Davenport said an officer was made aware that Pace had only been released from prison that day and had been briefed on it beforehand.

“Mr Pace continued to try to lash out at doorman and officers,” Mr Davenport said.

Ultimately Pace was placed in handcuffs and arrested.

Mr Davenport described how Pace continued to shout and swear within hearing of members of the public and refused to go into the police van, having to be forced inside by officers.

In the holding area at the police station he told officers he had ‘smack on him’ and a wrap was recovered from his wallet. Pace has 58 convictions for 138 offences.

Charles Hamer, defending, said Pace had entered guilty pleas in the magistrates court and had been in custody since the incident at the Slug and Lettuce.

Mr Hamer acknowledged that Pace had ‘a substantial record’.

He said: “It’s a record that is very sad in many ways.”

Mr Hamer told the judge Pace had mental health issues and epilepsy. He said Pace had expected to be seen by a probation officer accompanied by someone from Swanswell after he was released but no-one met him despite him waiting there for an hour.

“He was released without anywhere to go,” said Mr Hamer who told the court Pace had slept in a polytunnel on farmland.

Judge Jim Tindal said: “Mr Pace - here we are again. You have been sentenced so many times that any judge or magistrate speaking to you about your offences would probably be water off a duck’s back. I understand you are frustrated and disappointed that the plans you thought were in place were not in place.”

However, he told Pace, who appeared via videolink from prison, he was ultimately responsible for his own behaviour and no-one had forced him to start a fight or injure someone.

He told Pace: “The last time you came out of prison - perhaps with hopes and expectations that it was going to be different - you were back inside within 24 hours.”

The judge warned Pace: “It’s in your hands Mr Pace. That’s all I will say.”

The judge jailed him for six months, giving him credit for his guilty plea.