AN angry drunk broke a man's jaw in two places and attacked his friend during a 'shocking' episode of 'mindless violence' outside a Worcester pub.

Frank Crocker scaled a security fence and a gate at the car park of the Worcester Arms in London Road, Worcester, shouting 'I will take all 10 of you on!' before calling his friends on the phone for 'back up'.

The 23-year-old of Richmond Road, Worcester, struck his first victim, Tom Emblem, with a single punch, breaking his jaw in two places during the attack on November 1 last year.

The attack happened as the pub was closing at around 10pm.

Crocker also punched Mr Emblem's friend, Calum Chitty, in the jaw. Both men had to attend hospital.

Crocker had already admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared before Judge James Burbidge QC at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

Robert Tolhurst, prosecuting, said the defendant had been shouting and becoming aggressive towards the victims.

The owner of the pub, who had twice tried to push the defendant back inside in an attempt to bring things under control, 'heard Mr Crocker asking for friends of his to come for backup'.

The males from the other group had moved away across the road to get a taxi before Crocker scaled a six to eight feet high security fence and a gate in the pub car park, punching Mr Emblem.

"He did not see the punch coming" said Mr Tolhurst. 

Crocker was said to calm down and walk away before, 'without warning or provocation', he punched Mr Chitty twice to the face, once to the jaw and once to the ear.

Mr Chitty said he could not understand why he had been assaulted but 'thought it was perhaps because he had been assertive to the defendant' during the assault on his friend.

Friends of the victims had brought Crocker to the floor and one of them was said to have suffered a broken hand while the defendant was restrained.

After the assault Mr Emblem attended A&E and needed surgery - three metal plates and a temporary wire to hold his jaw together.

He also suffered nerve damage to his lower lip which caused numbness which the victim believed was a result of the surgery.

He suffered pain, swelling and bruising to his face and had to have a wisdom tooth removed.

Mr Chitty's jaw was not broken, X-rays showed, but his face was badly swollen and he had to attend A&E because he was unable to eat anything.

Crocker was arrested from a construction site on Whittington Road in Worcester, making no reply to the caution.

Initially he 'gave an account that was untrue' but 'then admitted the offence and showed genuine remorse for his actions', Mr Tolhurst told the court.

He has three convictions for four offences including possession of a bladed article, possession of cannabis, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failing to comply with the terms of a community order.

The prosecutor said it was an aggravating feature that both offences had been committed 'in a public space while the defendant was under the influence of alcohol'.

Amanda O'Mara, defending, said Crocker had been 'quite shocked when he saw his behaviour' on CCTV footage and believed at the time someone had been 'mocking his friend'.

"He was quite ashamed when he saw that" she said, describing how her client had 'issues with anger'.

He has since lost his job but has found new work. Arguing against an immediate custodial sentence, Miss O'Mara said prisoners were still spending up to 23 hours a day in their cells because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said the attack on Mr Emblem involved one punch.

However, Judge James Burbidge QC said: "That's all it took to break his jaw."

In his sentencing remarks the judge told Crocker: "Both crimes represent what one might call mindless violence on your part in a public place when under the influence of alcohol.

"The public cannot and will not tolerate that in this city."

Judge Burbidge, who said he was mindful that Crocker had 'been through the care system', sentenced him to 10 months in prison which he told him must be served immediately.

"Appropriate punishment can only be met through immediate custody" he said.

Crocker can expect to serve half the sentence in custody and half the sentence on licence in the community.

He was led downstairs by a dock officer, carrying his belongings in an orange carrier bag.