A MAN with an "appalling" criminal record held a pair of scissors and threatened to stab Ellesmere Port hotel staff after hiding under one of the room's beds.

Christopher John Thomas Walsh, 31, of Brook Street, Chester, had earlier stolen a prescribed bottle of methadone from a homeless person who had been housed at the Mercure Hotel in Little Sutton as part of the coronavirus lockdown, Chester Crown Court heard on Thursday, September 3.

Walsh pleaded guilty to affray, theft and an assault on a police officer, as well as being in breach of a suspended sentence and a three-year Crasbo imposed in early 2018.

He denied a separate assault on a police officer and burglary, for which the prosecution offered no evidence and a formal not guilty verdict was given on both charges.

Judge Simon Berkson jailed him for six months for the affray, theft and assault, plus eight weeks for the breach of the suspended sentence.

Prosecuting, Simon Leong said in was on July 28 when staff at the Mercure Hotel were alerted to a man acting suspiciously in the hotel.

A 120ml methadone bottle prescribed for a homeless person residing in one of the hotel rooms had gone missing.

Staff made enquiries and eventually arrived at a room which was occupied by Walsh's partner, who denied Walsh was there, when he was actually hiding under the bed.

Walsh initially refused to come out and then grabbed a pair of scissors, threatening to stab a member of staff while lunging the pair of scissors at him.

The hotel staff member grabbed a pillow to shield himself and stepped back.

Walsh then, of his own accord, put the scissors down and staff contacted police, while removing all sharp objects from the room.

Police arrested and handcuffed Walsh, while a 120ml bottle of methadone, with the label ripped off, was found on the bed.

As Walsh was being led through the hotel lobby, he moved his head in an attempt to headbutt the police officer, but no contact was made.

Walsh had 40 previous convictions for 74 offences, including for dishonesty, harassment, violence and breach of community orders.

Defending, Andrew Green said Walsh had recognised the seriousness of the offences and that immediate custody was inevitable.

It was a relatively short-lived incident, with no injuries caused, Mr Green told the court.

He added: "It goes to reflect the pitiable existence he was living at that time, a life blighted by drug abuse."

Mr Green added the prison sentence should take into account the current prison regime, which sees prisoners in 23-hour lockdown each day as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Berkson told Walsh: "You tried to hide [under the bed] and then became threatening and abusive to members of staff trying to deal with the situation.

"You were lunging towards a member of staff with scissors and shouting abuse.

"You have an appalling criminal record and you were subject to a Crasbo and a suspended sentence order."