AN ATTACKER who vandalised a car, stole alcohol, used violence to enter a home, and assaulted five people has been jailed.

Joshua Bewick entered guilty pleas to four counts of assault by beating, one count of using violence to secure entry to a premises, one count of assaulting an emergency worker by beating, one count of theft from a shop, two counts of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, and one count of criminal damage when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in June.

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The court heard from prosecutor Valerie Hart that the 31-year-old had used violence to secure entry to a home in Hereford, knowing there was someone present who opposed his entry, assaulted two women and two men by beating, and assaulted a police officer by beating in Hereford on June 21.

He had also stolen bottles of alcohol worth a total of £61 from Asda in Hereford, intentionally or recklessly damaged a grey Honda Civic belonging to another person, and used threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause two men harassment, alarm, or distress in Hereford on the same date, magistrates were told.

Magistrates said they had taken the guilty pleas into account, but that the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, because of an unprovoked attack of a serious nature, and as Bewick was subject to a suspended sentence at the time and has a "flagrant disregard" for people and their property.

Bewick, who is of no fixed address, was jailed for 10 months.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 to each of the assault victims, £61 to Asda, £100 to one of the victims of threats or abuse, and £400 to the Honda owner.