A DRUG dealer left covered in blood after he had been 'stabbed' in Worcester has had his jail sentence delayed because he is ‘vulnerable’.

Robin Bayer, who was found covered in blood in the city centre, will need to have a psychiatric report before he is sentenced after he was caught supplying cocaine.

The 31-year-old had already admitted being concerned in the supply of the class A drug between August 31 and October 21 last year when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

Bayer of Dace Road, Worcester had also admitted possession of cocaine hydrochloride, another class A drug, at a previous appearance on November 5 this year.

A pre-sentence report had been ordered on the last occasion but had not been prepared by the time Judge Nicholas Cole was due to sentence him to what is likely to be a spell in prison.

During the last hearing before magistrates Ralph Robyns-Landricombe, prosecuting, said officers saw an argument involving a group outside a bank in Worcester High Street. He added: “The defendant was one of this group but walked away as police officers approached. As a result of what the group told officers and a witness who said he had heard him talking about weaponry while covered in blood officers decided to do an area search for this particular male but he could not be located.

“A doorman saw the defendant covered in blood on Worcester High Street and was concerned about him as the defendant said he had been involved in a stabbing and had discarded a knife.”

Officers located him and searched him. “He was acting strangely and had white powder marks around his nose” said the prosecutor.

The white powder was also found in a towel and police discovered £119.72 in cash, a set of scales, a telephone and a further drugs wrap on his wrist. He was arrested for possession of the class A drug with intent to supply. The court heard his mobile phone showed evidence he had been supplying cocaine in 0.5g to 1g deals worth between £40 and £100.

During Friday’s hearing his solicitor, Judith Kenney, said she had noticed a series of what she called ‘red flags’ when speaking with her client and asked that the case be adjourned for a psychiatric report to be prepared. She accepted there were inconsistencies in the account of what happened after the judge said he had also read that the blood may have been from a nose bleed.

“This is an offence committed during an episode. This man is clearly going to receive an immediate custodial sentence. He has never been in custody before. I see him as a quite a vulnerable individual. He’s indicating to me he’s vulnerable,” said Miss Kenney.

Jason Smith, a court liaison probation officer, also said he had concerns about Bayer’s mental health. “He’s addicted to cocaine and uses alcohol as a blocker, a crutch. In my view this was drug-induced psychosis” said Mr Smith.

The judge adjourned the case until February 16 next year for a psychiatric and probation pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Judge Cole warned the defendant that the starting point was an immediate custodial sentence. Bayer was granted bail on condition he co-operates with the probation officer in the preparation of the report and with the psychiatrist in the preparation of the psychiatric report.