A "DIE-hard" drunk swore at police, spat at their feet and threw a punch, Worcester magistrates were told.

Paul Green, aged 56, had skipped a court appearance for stealing alcohol days before he confronted the officers.

"At about 3pm on Friday, March 7, he was seen in Sainsbury's where he was watched by a member of staff who saw him put a bottle of Captain Morgan rum in his pocket," said Sally Hill, prosecuting.

"He was detained outside the store and escorted back in, where he was verbally abusive. "He said he was an alcoholic and when he gets desperate he steals.

"He was brought before the court on the next day, which was a Saturday morning, and he was given bail, but he failed to come to court.

Miss Hill said that on Monday, March 19, police were called to the Salvation Army area of the city to deal with another man, when they encountered Green.

"They were confronted with Green and he started interfering," she said.

"They told him to go away and noticed that he had been drinking. But he failed to do so and he swore. He then spat at the floor in front of their feet."

He adopted a fighting stance. He swung a punch but missed the officers and they arrested him.

Joe Kieran, defending, said Green spent most of his time drinking alcohol with friends.

"He's a die-hard alcoholic and a habitual drunkard," Mr Kieran told the magistrates.

"He hasn't the capacity, will, motivation, or whatever it takes to alter course and change tack,"

He urged magistrates to treat him as a social nuisance, or pest, rather than a threat to society.

Green, of no fixed address, admitted being drunk and disorderly, stealing the rum and failing to appear before a court.

He was fined £50 for each offence, ordered to pay £55 costs and remain in Worcester Police Station until 8pm tonight.