A MAN with mental health problems who assaulted a police officer has had his case delayed so he can first be assessed by a psychiatrist.

Jerraldo Collins appeared at Worcester Crown Court over videolink from HMP Hewell and faces being made subject to both a criminal behaviour order and a restraining order if the application is successful.

We have previously reported how the 31-year-old assaulted an officer when they tried to arrest him.

Collins, who has links to Worcester, Kidderminster and Droitwich, was thought to have been in Scotland but was arrested by West Mercia Police.

When police found Collins and subsequently placed him under arrest he assaulted an officer.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: “Thank you for your help in searching for wanted man Jerraldo Collins. A 31-year-old man has been arrested for breach of court bail conditions and assaulting an emergency worker during the arrest and is in custody.”

His barrister, Adam Western, asked the case to be adjourned until December 10 so Collins can be assessed by a psychiatrist.

The case had been listed for sentence at the hearing last month but Mr Western said his client had been diagnosed with conditions including psychosis, personality disorder and depression, had been prescribed medication and had spent two periods under the care of Studdert Kennedy House in Worcester.

Mr Western said this assessment and report by the psychiatrist would help decide whether a medical disposal was appropriate in the case.

Judge Martin Jackson said: “Mr Western, you’re pushing at an open door. The application does not surprise me. I don’t doubt the court would be helped if there was a medical report to fill in the gaps as it were.”

Mr Western said, as yet, no-one had been identified to carry out the assessment and prepare the report and the judge asked him if he was confident some progress could be made on the next occasion.

The judge said: “I appreciate Mr Collins is in custody. One wants to ensure there is going to be enough time for a report to be done and seen by the probation service and for any enquiries to be made.”

However, Mr Western said he expected the report could be prepared within the time. The defence was given until December 4 to say whether the application for a criminal behaviour order and restraining order was opposed.