A MULTIPLE offender who asked Ipswich magistrates to jail him because community service got in the way of his work is today beginning nearly five months in custody.

A MULTIPLE offender who asked Ipswich magistrates to jail him because community service got in the way of his work is today beginning nearly five months in custody.

Jaymie Lamb, 19, cried while locked in the dock at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court as he awaited sentencing for a string of offences.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to offences of criminal damage, assaulting a police officer and being in possession of cannabis resin.

Lamb, of Rubens Road, Ipswich, was arrested on January 22 for damaging a car wing mirror by kicking it.

During the hearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, prosecutor Sandra Dyer said police found the cannabis in his coat pocket during a search at Ipswich police station.

Lamb had been arrested just after 12.55am when a policeman walking along Nacton Road saw him kick the wing mirror, causing £100 damage.

"He was drunk. So drunk he appeared initially to be unaware he was being arrested," Ms Dyer said.

"He attempted to kick out at the sergeant."

Lamb again became aggressive when being put in a cell at Ipswich police station and kicked an officer when he attempted to shut him in a cell.

Mitigating, Ian Persaud told the court Lamb, an unemployed plasterer, could not explain his actions.

"When Jaymie was arrested the handcuffs were very tight, it was a great concern of his," Mr Persaud said.

"By the time he got to the station he was still complaining. He was manhandled into the cell and the reaction was to kick out at the officer."

Mr Persaud said Lamb asked magistrates to impose a custodial sentence rather than a community punishment order, which would see him doing unpaid work for the community.

Lamb already had two existing orders, including one imposed in March last year for offences of criminal damage and assault.

"He is finding it difficult to comply with the orders. The truth of the matter is that it does get in the way of his work," Mr Persaud said.

The magistrates imposed a custodial sentence of four months and 28 days in a young offenders' institution.

Chairman of the bench, magistrate Joan Overett , said that for assaulting a police officer Lamb was sentenced to eight weeks in custody and for damaging the vehicle he was sentenced to four weeks.

No separate penalty was imposed for possession of the cannabis resin.

The remainder of the sentence was imposed in place of the two existing community orders, which the magistrates revoked, and to account for fines owed to the court and compensation owing to victims.

Lamb was ordered to pay £55 costs for a previous offence of carrying an offensive weapon.