A FATHER-TO-BE could miss the birth of his baby after being jailed for 35 days.

Jamie McCollum's girlfriend is due to give birth any day now, but she could be without the support of her partner because the 24-year-old, of Russell Close, Malvern, is in custody for three shoplifting offences.

McCollum admitted stealing two bottles of vodka from the Co-op store in Malvern when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court, putting him in breach of a suspended sentence for stealing four cans of Stella Artois lager.

Rob Macrory, defending, said McCollum had an "extreme alcohol problem", but had turned a corner and had only had two alcoholic drinks since his arrest.

Mr Macrory said after years of non-compliance with the courts McCollum was taking steps to address his alcohol abuse and was looking forward to fatherhood.

However, deputy district judge Kevin Grego said McCollum had 19 convictions and 35 offences on his record, between 1999 and 2007, and there was a point where the courts had to take off the "social worker" hat and take action.

He said if he did not activate the suspended sentence, it would effectively make that sentence a "joke".