A THUG who punched a paramedic shouted “I need a beer” as he heckled a magistrate while covertly live streaming his sentence on Facebook.

Ashley Mathers, 39, told a court he needed to hold his mobile phone as his pockets “keep splitting” during his hearing on Tuesday.

But unbeknown to court officials, Mathers broadcasted proceedings from the moment he entered the courtroom to when he walked into a pub in Southend’s city centre to toast freedom afterwards.

His not-so-clever idea breached the Criminal Justice Act 1925, which forbids taking and/or publishing videos or photographs from inside a court.

Gazette: Arrested - Ashley Mathers terrorised Colchester during years of criminal behaviourArrested - Ashley Mathers terrorised Colchester during years of criminal behaviour (Image: Newsquest)

Gazette: Do not enter - Mathers is banned from entering the borough of ColchesterDo not enter - Mathers is banned from entering the borough of Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

Mathers moved to Shoebury after bosses at Colchester Council became so sick of his behaviour they banned him from the borough.

Mathers was jailed for two years in 2004 after barricading himself in his home in Stanway with brother Kelvin during an 18 hour siege surrounded by armed police.

He was again before a crown court after taking an axe into Colchester’s Playhouse pub in November 2007.

Mathers found himself in hot water again last week as he appeared before Southend Magistrates’ Court having been convicted of assaulting both a policeman and a paramedic last year.

Gazette: Bad brothers - Ashley Mathers, left, and brother Kelvin were banned from the borough after clocking up 80 convictions between them during a decade of offendingBad brothers - Ashley Mathers, left, and brother Kelvin were banned from the borough after clocking up 80 convictions between them during a decade of offending (Image: Essex Police)

Gazette: Letter - a letter written to the Gazette in 2012 which details the Mathers' plan to appeal their ban from ColchesterLetter - a letter written to the Gazette in 2012 which details the Mathers' plan to appeal their ban from Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

He also admitted breaching a non-molestation order made against his brother.

At one point during his case Mathers exclaimed “I need to go back to bed” and told the chairwoman of the bench his phone had run out of battery when questioned about its use.

He pleaded “don’t do that, they attacked me” as the magistrate pondered over whether to order Mathers to pay compensation to the policeman and paramedic he assaulted.

The defendant murmured “oh you mug” after being told he must pay £100 to each victim.

Gazette: Livestream - Mathers broadcasted his sentence at Southend Magistrates' Court on FacebookLivestream - Mathers broadcasted his sentence at Southend Magistrates' Court on Facebook (Image: Archant)

Mathers, of Cunningham Close, Shoeburyness, said “oh great” after being handed a 16 week suspended sentence.

He 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.”

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

Upon leaving the court, an official warned Mathers if he had filmed it would be an illegal act.

“It’s a criminal offence to record in court, apparently,” he remarked to a friend as he walked away.

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