HERE are some of the latest cases from Worcester Crown Court.

Ex-soldier and convicted rapist

Reece Vella

sacked his legal team in frustration because he said a psychiatrist had not been to see him in prison.

Vella, arrested following the death of a Thai prostitute who fell from a balcony, expressed his frustration that a legal representative had not turned up at a previous court hearing and that he had not yet been seen by a psychiatrist in prison.

The 27-year-old, formerly of Callow End, near Worcester, appeared at Worcester Crown Court after previously admitting being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin

The sentence hearing was adjourned until Friday, September 27.

In the meantime he was remanded in custody.

Burglar

Samantha Skipp

was jailed despite begging for mercy from the judge.

Samantha Skipp, who was involved in a pickaxe burglary with her 'career criminal' boyfriend at a family home in Worcester and stole a purse from a volunteer at the city's hospital, was jailed for two years at Worcester Crown Court.

The 38-year-old's barrister had pleaded with the judge to spare her an immediate jail sentence, telling the court she may need a double mastectomy and certainly surgery and radiotherapy.

Judge Robert Juckes QC

jailed two men and gave a third a suspended sentence at the city's crown court as he said Worcester and Hereford were being 'disfigured' by drunken violence.

His comments came after two violent assaults in Hereford which left one victim with fractured teeth and the other with a scar.

Max Stutz, 21, of Grafton Walk, Hereford was jailed for three years for two assaults occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, criminal damage and breach of a conditional discharge.

Marley Williams, 21, of Primrose Close, Hereford was jailed for 18 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breach of a conditional discharge.

Brandon Holland, 21, of Sycamore Avenue, Hereford, was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Adam Mason

denied the murder of Desmond Wooding while Mark Mason denied assisting an offender when they appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

Adam Mason, 32, of Plough Lane, Tibberton, Droitwich, stands accused of the murder of the 80-year-old, said to have taken place on June 23 this year.

Mark Mason, 55, of Plough Lane, Tibberton stands accused of assisting an offender.

The pensioner’s body was found at his home in Vines Lane the following day. The case has been adjourned the trial until December 9 this year.

However, another hearing will take place on Friday, September 6 this year.