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Man who punched paramedic called magistrate 'mug' and told court 'I need a beer'

Serial offender Ashley Mathers, 39, from Shoeburyness, Essex, also secretly live-streamed his sentencing on Facebook, breaking the law on filming in court.

Ashley Mathers pictured on the day he was jailed for holding a rooftop siege in Colchester. See SWNS story SWLSthug - A thug called a magistrate a 'mug' and told the court he 'needs a beer' whilst secretly live-streaming his sentencing. Ashley Mathers, 39, was found guilty of punching a paramedic and assaulting a policeman last year. At his sentencing on Jan 24 he covertly live-streamed the entire hearing to Facebook, breaking the law on filming in a courtroom.
Ashley Mathers, pictured at a previous court appearance, called a magistrate a 'mug'. (SWNS)

A man who punched a paramedic called a magistrate a "mug" during a court appearance and declared: "I need a beer".

Serial offender Ashley Mathers, 39, from Shoeburyness, Essex, also secretly live-streamed his sentencing on Facebook, breaking the law on filming in court.

He was found guilty of punching a paramedic and assaulting a police officer last year, and was sentenced at Southend Magistrates' Court last Tuesday.

He started broadcasting proceedings as soon as he walked into court, and kept his phone in his hand after telling staff his pocket kept splitting open. Mathers kept recording until he walked into a pub afterwards.

During sentencing, Mathers muttered "Oh you mug" to the magistrate after being ordered to pay £100 each to the policeman and paramedic he attacked.

Mathers said: "Don't do that, they attacked me."

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Southend Magistrates' Court entrance on Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK.
Ashley Mathers called a magistrate a 'mug' at Southend Magistrates' Court. (Alamy)

He was then handed a 16-week suspended sentence, to which he said: "Oh great."

Mathers added: "Oh can I go now? This is boring. I can’t pay. Can’t pay we’ll take it away, right? Can I go now? I need a beer. Get me out of here."

At one point during the hearing, Mathers said: “I need to go back to bed.”

He told the chairwoman of the bench his phone had run out of battery when questioned about its use.

Ashley Mathers pictured on the day he was jailed for holding a rooftop siege in Colchester. See SWNS story SWLSthug - A thug called a magistrate a 'mug' and told the court he 'needs a beer' whilst secretly live-streaming his sentencing. Ashley Mathers, 39, was found guilty of punching a paramedic and assaulting a policeman last year. At his sentencing on Jan 24 he covertly live-streamed the entire hearing to Facebook, breaking the law on filming in a courtroom.
Ashley Mathers, pictured at a previous court appearance, was found guilty of punching a paramedic and assaulting a police officer. (SWNS)

Mathers has dozens of convictions over a decade of offending, and was previously banned from the borough of Colchester in Essex.

He must undertake six months of alcohol treatment, a rehabilitation activity requirement and a one-year mental health course.

Mathers was also given a two-year restraining order to stop contacting his brother, Kelvin.

A HM Courts and Tribunals Service spokesman said: “Filming in a courtroom is a criminal offence. We have reported this matter to Facebook so they can remove the content.”