A REDDITCH man in jail for threatening to blow up the block of flats where he lived may escape a further prison sentence for a later offence of wounding someone with a golf club.

Sentencing of Dean Tambling, aged 26, formerly of Winslow Close, Redditch, for wounding Todd MacDonald, was adjourned at Worcester Crown Court until July 14 – the day he is due for release on licence from jail.

Judge Christopher Plunkett said that, if Tambling then agreed to a condition that he stays on medication to treat his psychotic episodes, he was considering allowing him to have a community sentence, rather than a further spell in prison.

Tambling was, last October, jailed for 21 months after admitting criminal damage to a door and threatening to cause damage by fire in May last year.

On that occasion, the court was told that, after police were called to flats in Winslow Close, Tambling held a plastic bag containing nails through the letterbox, said he had gunpowder and told officers he would blow them up with a bomb.

He has since admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with a golf club on Mr MacDonald on July 28 last year.

Judge Plunkett said he had been shown a video of Tambling “bursting out of his flat and setting about his victim”.

The judge added that a psychiatric report suggested that, in a controlled environment under medication, Tambling “behaves himself”.

“This young man had a fairly appalling start in life,” said Judge Plunkett.

“He’s making an appalling fist of getting on with life.

“But if he is assisted he might live a broadly law-abiding life.”

Charles Hamer, defending, said his client had psychotic episodes but was “stable” on medication.

Tambling had refused to come from prison to attend the latest hearing but the judge said that, if he attends on the next occasion and agrees to a condition that he continues to take his medication, he may be given a community order.

Judge Plunkett said: “It may be more in the public interest than jailing him – and then leaving him to his own devices.”