A DRUG addict left a vulnerable man with head injuries during a nine-month offending spree involving “joyriding”, shoplifting and burglary.

Stewart Mallin “behaved thoroughly appallingly” by trying to bite a police after he was pulled over in New Milton.

However, the 51-year-old of Ashley Common Road exclaimed from the dock at Southampton Crown Court he had no teeth and wasn’t wearing dentures at the time.

Prosecution barrister, Sam Barker told how during another incident, Mallin flew into a fit of anger while trying to "effectively extort" money from a man with learning difficulties.

Mallin is said to have demanded cash from his victim in exchange for a camera and mobile phone he had stolen from his home in New Milton earlier in the day.

When the man said he didn’t have any and started to get out of the car, Mallin reversed his BMW hitting him with the door.

Mr Barker told how the man fell to the ground and suffered injuries to the back of his head.

The crown accepted the injury was unintented however, Mallin drover away from the “scene at speed”.

On October 22 last year, he stole car keys from a property in Jowitt Drive, New Milton and went on “some sort of joy ride” when the owner who had fallen asleep left his front door unlocked.

Mallin, reappeared seemingly “drunk” and returned the car later in the day.

During other incidents between January and October last year he stole bank cards, petrol, champagne meat and a satnav.

Mallin was charged with theft, making off without payment, burglary and ABH - to which he pleaded guilty.

Defending, Jamie Gammon argued his offending had been driven by drug addiction, and he had been in custody since October and already served the equivalent of an eight-month sentence.

Mr Recorder Mathew Turner jailed him for two years, suspended for 18 months.

He must complete 20 rehabilitation days and is subject to a six-month curfew between 9pm and 7am each day.