A DRUNK homeless man who swore at police has received a 'wake-up call' after he suffered a head injury and possible bleed on the brain when he fell down a flight of hospital stairs.

Jack Payne of Worcester, who was drunk when he fell earlier this month, has suffered headaches since and is due to an appointment with his doctor said his solicitor, Barry Newton.

The 23-year-old admitted bring drunk and disorderly outside McDonald's in Worcester city centre on October 26 when he appeared before Worcester magistrates on Thursday.

Payne, who is staying at St Paul's Hostel in Tallow Hill, Worcester, also accepted that he stole £10 of Amstel from Nisa in Oakland Avenue, Droitwich on October 10 and alcohol to a value unknown from the Texaco garage in Castle Street on October 14.

Payne further admitted that he had failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the terms of a community order imposed on May 16. This was put in place after he racially abused a Worcester taxi driver.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said Payne stole eight cans from the Castle Street garage on October 14 but because there was no value on the charge she could not ask for compensation. When interviewed Payne said he was 'very drunk at the time and doesn't remember the events of the night'.

Payne was positively identified from CCTV at Nisa in Droitwich.

On October 26 police received a report of a male who was drunk and disorderly outside McDonald's in Worcester city centre and arrived to find Payne 'staggering out of the door, holding an open glass bottle'.

Miss Ritchie said: "He had glazed eyes and he was unsteady on her feet. He was swearing profusely and refused to comply with officers."

His last theft offence was in 2014 and his last drunk and disorderly matter was in 2015.

Payne was made subject to a 12 month community order on May 16 for racially aggravated section four public order. Two further public order offences followed and he was made subject to a further community order on August 19.

Barry Newton, defending, said: "The underlying issues have been a significant problem with alcohol."

He said his client suffered from anxiety and depression and had experienced a recent head injury which required medical treatment.

"That injury was suffered on November 6 when he fell down the stairs while drunk at the hospital" said Mr Newtown.

The solicitor told magistrates there was 'a question mark about whether there was a bleed on the brain' and that he now suffered with severe headaches but was due to see a doctor.

He added: "If you have fallen down and caused yourself significant injuries while drunk, I can't think of a greater wake-up call than that."

Payne receives Universal Credit but at a reduced rate to cover his accommodation costs. The court heard he had outstanding court debts of £3,910.

Magistrates decided they would give Payne 'the benefit of the doubt', revoking both community orders before re-sentencing him to a 12 month community order.

This will include 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 12 month alcohol treatment programme. Magistrates also placed him on a curfew for 60 days between 7pm and 7am.

Costs were waived because of Payne's limited means but the bench ordered him to pay £10 compensation to Nisa and a £90 victim surcharge.