A HOMELESS street drinker who spat in a police officer's face has cost the taxpayer so much money he could have been bought a house with a free bar and a carer to look after him, his solicitor quipped in court.

Peter Swinbourne, who said he lived at the Salvation Army in Worcester, was jailed at Kidderminster Magistrates Court last Friday for a string of offences, including breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order.

The CBO was imposed on September 12, 2016 in an attempt to curb Swinbourne's antisocial behaviour, prohibiting him from causing harassment, alarm or distress.

The 48-year-old also admitted assaulting an emergency worker after spitting at a police officer in Worcester on March 12 this year.

Shafquat Reaz, prosecuting, said the victim of the assault, PC Potter, and other officers were called to reports of anti-social behaviour in Worcester city centre. Swinbourne was identified by officers, describing as being 'unsteady on his feet' and with 'slurred speech'.

"He has come out with expletives towards the officers and its then he's arrested" said Mr Reaz.

Swinbourne was taken to Worcester Police Station in Castle Street where he was described as 'obstructive throughout'. The defendant was placed in a cell.

"He was shouting and he has spat at PC Potter, causing the spittle to hit the left side of his face and his eyebrow," Mr Reaz told the court.

Nick Roberts, defending, said Swinbourne's record was 'particularly unattractive'. At the time Swinbourne was also subject to a deferred sentence imposed on March 4.

However, he appeared in court again on March 7 for similar offences. A two week prison sentence was imposed, suspended for six months at that hearing and the deferred sentence was brought forward.

On March 9 Swinbourne appeared again for breach of his CBO and assaulting an emergency worker and was handed an eight week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Swinbourne returned to court on March 11 for theft from a shop and he was handed a conditional discharge for six months.

Despite the theft, the suspended sentence was not activated at that hearing and the operational period of the order was extended by one month (to 13 months) instead.

Mr Roberts said his client over the years had been subject to every form of order including antisocial behaviour orders and criminal behaviour orders.

"For the majority of the time he has been a homeless alcoholic. It's quite apparent this type of order does not work for someone who is dependent on alcohol and lives on the street," he said.

He added: "They could have bought him a house with a free bar and a carer for the amount of time, trouble and money they have spent on simply locking him up only for him to come out and come back in again."

Mr Roberts described the system as a 'revolving door' and said Swinbourne had become 'somewhat institutionalised'. He said his client accepted spitting out a lozenge at the officer, given to him because he smokes. However, the solicitor said his client had been 'reckless' in spitting at the officer rather than having any intention of doing so.

Magistrates sentenced Swinbourne to 12 weeks in prison and ordered him to pay £75 compensation.

Swinbourne, speaking from the dock, began to walk towards the cells before he was dismissed by the magistrates, shouting: "See you then! Goodbye!"

The chairman of the bench said 'you may go now Mr Swinbourne' and the defendant, raising his voice, shouted back: "I'm going anyway!"