AN angry defendant threatened to attack dock officers and punched a wall when he learned he was going to jail.

Billy Corns wrestled with officers, screamed and stamped his feet in the dock at Worcester Crown Court yesterday when he was handed a 160 day jail sentence for wielding a kitchen knife in a Malvern street. To begin with the 33-year-old of Barbourne Road, Worcester sat down with his arms folded and refused to go down to the cells, swore and told the court 'I have been good for a long time' and 'I'm doing well' before he screamed: "I will smash everyone up!"

At one point he punched the wall with a loud crack. Alarms rang out and more officers rushed to the court to try and contain him. One grabbed him, prompting Corns to threaten to put him on his backside, shouting 'get away from me!' and 'I'm going to flip!'

Corns backed into the far corner as officers, by now keeping their distance, told him to 'calm down', one of the female officers calling him 'sweetheart'. Corns protested: "I'm doing well and they're sending me to jail."

The Worcester News reporter was told to leave the courtroom which was then locked. However, he was later informed Corns had agreed to go down after his partner came into the court from the public gallery to talk to him.

Corns had the knife in Cowleigh Road, Malvern at 5.15pm on April 12 this year which was captured in CCTV.

Adam Western, prosecuting, said: "He has a knife in his right hand. His arm is extended. He's being restrained by his brother who it would appear is trying to disarm the defendant.

"Quickly the defendant's brother is able to disarm the defendant, takes the knife off him and throws it onto the grass" said Mr Western.

Corns had believed three males were threatening him or his girlfriend although no evidence was provided to support this, the court heard. In police interview Corns said 'he was stupid to have taken the knife into the street'.

The offence placed Corns in breach of a suspended prison sentence (21 days suspended for 12 months) for resisting and obstructing a constable in the execution of his duties.

"When he was taken into custody he tried to headbutt the arresting officer and made threats towards the officer" said Mr Western.

Corns has 18 convictions for 28 offences including possession of an offensive weapon (a blade) in 2005 which placed him at risk of a mandatory minimum six month prison sentence. He also has a conviction for aggravated burglary for which he was jailed for five years and has served prison sentences of six months and 20 months for assaults.

Jason Aris, defending, argued that Corns had made progress over the last nine months, had been open and honest, and tried to engage with probation.

Mr Aris asked that he be given maximum credit for his indicated guilty plea at the magistrates court. Mr Aris also argued that it would be unjust to activate the minimum term and that his client had been assisted by being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs and that he had 'demonstrated great motivation to find gainful employment', possibly in the landscaping business. But Judge Nicholas Cole said Corns 'represented a risk to the public' and said he was satisfied that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.