A STRUGGLE which left a police officer with a two-inch-deep cut started after a man walked into a shop and ate a scotch egg without paying for it.

Martin Robinson admitted stealing from a Spar shop in Droitwich when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard the 24-year-old, who suffers from anxiety, probably committed the offence because he had mixed alcohol with his prescription medicine.

Kriss Ewing, prosecuting, said: "He went into Spar at about 10.30pm and he was clearly drunk. He took a Scotch egg from a display and ate it.

"He told the cashier, who he knew, to call the police. He said Look what I am doing. Call the police, I won't leave until you call the police'."

Robinson also opened and started to drink two cans of lager from the store before the police arrived and arrested him. He struggled while being restrained by police and as a result one of officers received a two-inch cut to his forearm.

During the hearing, Robinson also admitted breaking into the Worcester College of Technology in April this year and stealing money from a vending machine.

Andy Wakeman, defending, said his client had no excuse for committing either the burglary or the theft from the Spar, but mixing alcohol with his prescribed anxiety medication probably had something to do with his actions.

He said: "He shouldn't consume alcohol at the same time. When the burglary was committed, he had."

The court also heard that Robinson's behaviour and desire for the shop assistant to call the police was unusual for someone who wanted to commit crimes and get away with it.

"He is trying to live a law- abiding life." added Mr Wakeman.

Robinson was told he had to return to court on Wednesday, January 10 to be sentenced.