A drunken yob with more than 25 convictions narrowly dodged a prison sentence after assaulting two policeman and a doctor in St Helier Hospital.

Warren Abel, from Purley Way, Croydon, attacked the three men as they were trying to give him treatment at the hospital on May 18.

The 23-year-old told Croydon magistrates' he had drunk 16 pints of lager and taken dozens of diazepam tablets.

After kicking out at the two policeman Abel then spat at one officer before racially abusing the other.

Fortunately for Chelsea fan Abel, the doctor dropped the charges.

Magistrates told the defendant, who admitted two charges of assault and one of racial abuse: "These are three offences connected with your appalling behaviour are sufficiently serious to merit a custodial sentence.

"Those officers and the doctor were trying to help you."