Former estate agent broke into Subway and bit a police officer just 24 hours after being spared jail

A former estate agent broke into a Subway store and bit a police officer just 24 hours after being spared prison.

Lewis Ilsley, 44, had committed a string of burglary and theft charges and was told he would be jailed if he carried out another offence within 15 months.

But astonishingly, he was back offending the following day when he smashed his way into a Subway branch in Worcester using a bin.

Ilsley then bit PC Victoria Burns’ leg when she tried to restrain him after he had left the shop.

Prosecutor Asiefna Adams told Worcester Magistrates Court a member of the public saw him crawl out and when police arrived he tried to run off.

Miss Adams said: "The defendant was clearly unsteady on his feet, stumbling over himself.

"Police took him to the floor restraining him. PC Victoria Burns felt a sharp pain and saw the defendant's mouth on her left leg."

Miss Adams said there were bite marks on the leg of the officer who went to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for treatment.

In police interview, Ilsley, of Hallow, Worcestershire, said he was so intoxicated he had no recollection of what happened.

He had also thrown stock around the Subway shop when he found there was no money in the till before leaving.

Dad-of-one Ilsley admitted burglary with intent to steal and assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Barry Newton, defending, asked for magistrates to give him credit for admitting the charges - but said Ilsely could have “no complaints” if he was jailed.

He said his client could be rehabilitated, highlighting a gap in his record of 12 years in the early 2000s where he worked up to be a senior manager at a Bristol estate agent.

Mr Newton added: "He fell back into drug misuse."

Chairman of the bench Andrew Greenway, told the court they had decided to activate the prison sentence and jailed Ilsley for 12 months.

He said: "The reason is you committed the offences the day after being in court.

"You would have been warned if you committed any further offences you would go to prison."

Ilsley has an extensive record of previous offending, including theft, and once stole from a collection for Oscar Saxelby-Lee, then aged five, who was receiving life-saving treatment for cancer.