A MAN fuelled by seven bottles of sherry picked a fight but ended up covered in his own blood, a court was told.

Patrick Foley launched an attack on a man walking his dog in the St John's area of Worcester, said Sally Badham, prosecuting at the city's magistrates court.

"It was 6.30pm when Paul Breakspear was walking in St John's and noticed Foley abusing members of the public," she said.

Mr Breakspear crossed the road to avoid Foley.

But the 37-year-old, of no fixed address, followed Mr Breakspear and began throwing punches at him.

"He also hurled abusive threats and told Mr Breakspear: 'I'll kill you'," added Mrs Badham.

The court heard Mr Breakspear punched Foley in the head twice in self-defence and tried to pin him down in the Bull Ring. Foley responded with kick and blows.

"The defendant was arrested and was clearly very drunk," said Mrs Badham.

Mr Breakspear suffered a bite mark on his right arm as well as cuts and grazes.

Foley admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on Wednesday, February 7.

John Onions, defending, admitted his client had previous convictions for violence. However, he said the last case dated from 1989.

"My client was on his eighth bottle of sherry," he said.

"He came off very much the worst from this encounter. When I interviewed him at the police station he was covered in his own blood and looked dreadful."

He claimed the injuries caused to Mr Breakspear were not serious in comparison.

Mr Onions asked for pre-sentence reports to be drawn up and the court agreed.

Foley, who also admitted a charge of failing to surrender to bail, was remanded in custody and told he would have to appear before Droitwich magistrates on Monday, April 9, for sentence.

The magistrates warned him they were keeping "all options open", including referring the case to Worcester Crown Court.