A BLOOD-covered Worcester drug dealer who asked about procuring weapons after an alleged stabbing at the city's McDonald's has been spared jail, the second dealer to walk free in under a week.

Robin Bayer, who had brought a JD Sports bag with him ready for prison, appeared emotional as he walked free at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. Judge James Burbidge QC, the Recorder of Worcester, imposed a suspended sentence after a probation officer said there was 'a realistic prospect of rehabilitation' and he was 'in the action phase' in trying to rid himself of his addictions. Judge Burbidge, the city's most senior judge, last Wednesday also released another dealer - 41-year-old Darren Davis - who was in a car stopped on the M5 near Worcester with 13.8g of heroin and 11.4g of crack cocaine.

Bayer, 31, of Dace Road, Worcester, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of cocaine. On Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 1am the defendant was in The Cross in Worcester arguing with a group of males. When officers approached he walked off in the direction of the High Street. Emma Rutherford, prosecuting, said Bayer was described by the group as 'covered in blood and enquiring about obtaining weapons'.

Police carried out an unsuccessful area search but a member of the door staff at Keystones nightclub in Copenhagen Street saw Bayer at around 1.30am with 'a significant amount of blood on the front of his t-shirt and hands'.

The doorman asked him if he was okay and Bayer told him he had been 'involved in a stabbing at McDonald's'. The doorman radioed for police assistance and also alerted CCTV operators as Bayer headed in the direction of the Elgar Statue. When officers found him he was described as 'agitated'.

"He was seen to be air boxing in Cathedral Plaza" said Ms Rutherford.

There he was detained, officers noting that his pupils were dilated and there was a white powder around his nose. At Worcester Police Station they found him with £119 in cash which he claimed was from his benefits and some electronic scales which he told them he used to weigh out the drugs he used himself. They also found a small amount of cocaine. Bayer was heard to tell officers: "You're wasting your time - I was about to snort that gram."

A drugs analyst found phone messages consistent with drug dealing between August 31 and October 21, 2019. Bayer said he only supplied people he knew when they could not get the drugs elsewhere and the money he made barely covered the cost of his own drugs. Judge Burbidge said: "Supplying drugs is always a serious crime and the public rightly demand that those who peddle drugs should suffer significant punishment. Ordinarily that must flow from the consequences of such crimes."

He said he had the benefit of a psychiatric report and the evidence of an experienced probation officer and there were 'a small number of cases where a judge needs to step back if there's a prospect in the criminal justice system of people being able to rehabilitate their conduct'. The judge sentenced him to two years in prison suspended for two years, a 12 month alcohol treatment programme, 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and an electronically monitored curfew between 9pm and 6am for four months.