A 45-year-old drug addict who got into a night-time fight in Worcester city centre has been given a suspended jail sentence.

John Copson, of Wyld's Lane, Worcester, was seen trading punches with another man in the area outside the former Angel Chef restaurant in Angel Street at 10.15pm on December 15 last year, Worcester Crown Court was told.

He was arrested and pleaded guilty to affray, Lisa Hancox, prosecuting, said. She said Copson had a long record of 44 convictions for 212 previous offences.

Michael Aspinall, defending, said Copson had been addicted to drugs for 15 years but had now volunteered to the Swanswell charity to help tackle his drug use following his last spell in jail.

"He realised what a waste he had made of his life and he was fed up of going in and out of prison," Mr Aspinall said.

Copson had now made good progress and had also limited his use of alcohol, he told the court.

Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins described Copson as "an extremely expensive member of society" because of the amount of time he has spent in the legal system.

He was given a six months sentence suspended for two years with a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months and rehabilitation activity of 20 days. He was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work.