A PRISONER released from jail made revenge threats against a witness who gave evidence against him.

Adam Lawson was sentenced to five months in prison after a drunken drive which ended in a crash in the car park of The Ketch pub, Worcester.

He paid the car's owner, Scott Brown, £500 compensation for the damage but then decided he wanted the money back to buy drugs, Worcester Crown Court heard.

On his release, he visited Mr Brown's address and warned his father: "I'll get my £500 in blood," said Tim Sapwell, prosecuting.

Steal goods

He also threatened to burgle the house and steal goods to the same value.

Lawson, aged 22, of Badger Gardens, St Peter's, Worcester, pleaded guilty to a threat to take revenge.

He was jailed for nine months and ordered to serve an extra 69 days of an unexpired prison licence.

Lawson obtained the keys of Mr Brown's car when drunk in September last year. He was given five months for aggravated vehicle taking, drink-driving and an unconnected assault, said Mr Sapwell.

But, after he was released early from jail on January 14 this year, he turned up at Mr Brown's home a fortnight later, "aggrieved" that the witness had made a statement to police about the driving incident.

Lawson spoke to the witness's father, Blair Brown, complaining he had been "grassed up". He then made the blood and burglary threats.

Nigel Hall, defending, said the £500 was a genuine attempt to make amends for the car damage.

But when he left jail, he was quickly back on to drugs and needed the money to feed his addiction.