A HEROIN addict who chased after two debt collectors with a hammer and smashed their car windows has been locked up for nine months.

Angry Gareth Hamilton pursued the men from his mother's home in Saxton Avenue, Buttershaw, Bradford, on April 12, claiming one had assaulted him.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court and was sent to Bradford Crown Court for sentence.

Hamilton, 33, then got himself into more trouble when he was abusive about the Justices of the Peace from the dock at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

When Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC asked why the case had been sent to the higher court, Hamilton shouted, swore and refe4rred to the magistrates as "idiots."

Judge Durham Hall, who was about to sentence him to a community order, then locked him up for Contempt of Court.

When Hamilton reappeared in the dock, his solicitor advocate, Kam Dhesi, said he was very sorry for the outburst but wanted to go to prison any way.

Mr Dhesi said his client was honest enough to tell the court he was unable to comply with a community order and preferred to go to prison to sort out his drug addiction.

"His use of drugs is too high. He genuinely believes that custody is the only way for him," Mr Dhesi told the judge.

Hamilton was also sentenced for breach of a magistrates court order for burgling his mother's bedroom.

The court was told he lived with his mother and stole her jewellery while she was away on holiday.

Judge Durham Hall said there was no alternative but to send him to prison.

He took no action on the Contempt of Court after Hamilton's apology but told him that "slagging off the magistrates" was not a good way to begin his mitigation.

Hamilton was jailed for six months for criminal damage and possession of the hammer and an extra three months for burgling his mother, branded "a mean offence" by the judge.