A TEENAGER who began a £1.4 million blaze which destroyed Stourport Sports Club has had his sentence postponed for two months.

Damien Evans failed to attend all four appointments made for him to see a psychiatrist.

He was now in custody after being charged with a new offence of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge John Cavell said a psychiatric report on 19-year-old Evans, of Tomkinson Drive, Foley Park, Kidderminster, was essential.

It had been ordered to assess whether Evans posed a danger to the public in the future.

The judge adjourned sentence until May 7 and remanded the defendant back into custody.

He is due for commital to crown court on the assault charge on April 21.

His barrister Emma Rutherford said he intended to deny the latest charge.

Evans, who has pleaded guilty to arson at the sports club on December 4 last year, twice failed to attend an appointment with a psychiatrist at a Birmingham clinic because he had no travel money.

He also lost his way and turned up too late to be seen the third time. On a fourth occasion the psychiatrist refused to interview him because he appeared to be drunk.

Evans claimed he had only drunk one pint of beer and insisted it was his companion who was intoxicated.

The defendant and 21-year-old Philip Bell, of Sutton Road, Kidderminster, have also pleaded guilty to another injury assault.

That offence was committed on June 11 last year against Tomos Spiv, also 21, of Lower Parklands, Kidderminster.

Prosecutor Susan Cliff told Worcester Crown Court that Evans was drunk on nine pints of cider before he set alight paper and linen in a plastic wheelie bin outside the sports centre.

He watched the flames rage for 20 minutes before fleeing the scene in the early hours.

The blaze destroyed facilities for 14 football teams, athletics and netball players as well as £40,000 worth of equipment. Rebuilding has begun with the help of insurance money.