Thief's dirty protest in police cell

Michael Gordon Milnethorpe, 38, of West Way, Prospect, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Mansfield police station on April 3.

Mark Salt, prosecuting, said: “It’s fair to say he was unhappy with his arrest and he fell out with the police officers.

“He smeared his own faeces on the walls. He was apologetic afterwards and asked for a bucket of water so he could clean it up.”

But officers said the mess had to be cleaned up by professionals.

The court heard Milnethorpe was arrested on a warrant after he failed to keep an appointment at the police station on March 31.

He admitted stealing £25 of groceries from Sainsburys in Worksop on March 13.

Milnethorpe also pleaded guilty to a charge of going equipped to steal on December 16 last year, after he was arrested at 10.45pm with a window hammer, rope, a torch, an adjustable spanner, gloves and a wire-cutter on High Grounds Industrial Estate. David Verity, mitigating, said: “Mr Milnethorpe is disgusted by what he did and regrets that behaviour.

“We can’t disguise the fact he has a long record. Clearly that would justify him being sent to prison. I would suggest that would achieve nothing except deprive him of the help of probation.

“Since his last conviction in April 2015 he has been keeping all appointments. You will hear from probation that he is doing well.”

Magistrates sentenced him to ten weeks in prison, suspended for one year, with six sessions of a rehabilitation activity requirement. The equipment was forfeited. And he was ordered to pay court costs.

Mr Verity told the court Milnethorpe had been living with his sister on a 10pm to 7am curfew.

He said Milnethorpe missed his appointment with police on March 31 because he didn’t have the bus fare after attending two days early.