A BURGLAR who made a getaway on a mobility scooter intended to drive it into a river because of his mental health battles.

John Francis of Wyld's Lane, Worcester, is due to be sentenced for burglary, attempted burglary, a series of frauds and possession of a Taser.

However, his sentence was adjourned for a second time at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday after his advocate revealed his struggles with mental and physical ill-health.

We have previously reported how the 44-year-old, who also had a working Taser in his city home, stole a bank card during a burglary in Hillery Road, Worcester and used the Santander card to carry out a string of frauds, splashing out on designer sports gear, whisky and a drill.

He also attempted to burgle another city house while the woman was asleep in her bedroom. First she saw his hand, then his head, poking through her window. When she shouted at him he made his getaway on his mobility scooter.

Naomi Nelson-Cofie, defending, applied for the adjournment because she argued more medical evidence should be before the court before he is sentenced despite him already having the benefit of a probation service report.

Miss Nelson-Coife referred to his depression, anxiety, PTSD and a blood clot on his brain for which he receives medication. She also said Francis uses a mobility scooter 'because he has several ulcers on the front and back of both legs'.

"Ordinarily a nurse would come out and dress those regularly. He has been doing that himself over the years. Those are fresh wounds that need dressing regularly. He tells me has had a skin graft on the front of his leg.

"Four weeks ago he tells me his situation got so bad in his mind that he was about to drive his scooter into the river. His family assisted him. He was referred to his GP."

A referral has since been made to Studdert Kennedy House which provides mental health services in Worcestershire. Miss Nelson-Coife said she was 'concerned' about some of the comments her client had made to her. She explained that Francis had not divulged this medical information when he was at Worcester Crown Court last month. He was convicted of the offences at Worcester Magistrates Court on September 16.

On the last hearing at crown court his then barrister, Jason Aris, also argued for an adjournment in the case but the reason was discussed in chambers. The journalist was asked to leave the courtroom and, as a result, we cannot report on why the delay was necessary.

Speaking this week, Judge Nicolas Cartwright agreed to a further adjournment and reserved the case to himself. He warned Francis that the fact he was adjourning and renewing bail was not to be taken as any indication or promise as to what the sentence would be.

The sentence hearing was adjourned until December 10. The defendant's bail conditions stipulate that he must remain indoors between 10pm and 7am daily as part of a curfew (not electronically monitored), present himself to any police officer between those times and live and sleep at the address given to the court.

Francis pleaded guilty to a burglary on May 26 this year during which he stole a laptop, an iPad, an iPhone 11 and bank cards.

Francis was captured on CCTV using the stolen cards to commit six frauds by false representation across Worcester between May 27 and 28, the day after the burglary.

A search of his home on June 9 this year revealed that he had a viable 'home made' Taser which could discharge electricity.

Francis also pleaded guilty to attempting to burgle a house in Devon Road, Worcester on May 30 this year but was disturbed climbing in through a window.

Using the stolen card, Francis bought a £45 drill from Wickes in Worcester, some Adidas trainers worth £36 from Sports Direct, a hoodie and carrier bag from Mountain Warehouse worth £42, a cap and an Adidas mask worth £28 from JD Sports, some earphones from Asda worth £36 and a £15 bottle of whisky from St Paul's News.