A THIEF smeared his police cell with excrement after being arrested for shoplifting.

Blackburn magistrates heard after his “dirty” protest Terry Gaskin offered to clean the cell which he said he had learned how to do properly while he was in prison.

Gaskin, 35, of Hartington Road, Darwen, pleaded guilt to stealing property worth £120 from Tesco, criminal damage to a police cell and an earlier offence of theft of a pair of sunglasses from a car. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client was experience problems with his benefits which caused financial problems.

“He resorted to old ways in order to address his problems,” said Mr Taylor.