A MAN in custody flooded his cell with toilet water, wrote a swear word on the walls, ripped up a magazine to cover up security cameras and destroyed a crayon.

Joshua Cupples, aged 29 and of Newman Close in Blandford appeared before Weymouth Magistrates’ Court.

He admitted criminal damage at Weymouth Police station on September 9, 2023, in which he flooded the cell, ripped up a magazine, destroyed a crayon and wrote on the cell walls.

Costs involved in cleaning the cell as a result of the damage totalled £61.60, the court heard.

Cupples pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

Elizabeth Valera, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “At 6.30pm on Saturday, September 9 the defendant was arrested on unrelated matters and taken into custody.

“Whilst in his cell he used a blue crayon to write the f word on the walls of the cell, flooded the cell using toilet water and tried to cover a security camera with newspapers.”

“We are asking for £61.60 to cover the costs of cleaning the cell because of the toilet water used to flood it.”

In mitigation, Mrs Shaheen for the defence said: “It is apparent that the defendant has long-term mental health issues and does receive treatment for these conditions

“Whilst in custody he was desperate for medication there were complications in getting that to him.

“Mr Cupples was overwhelmed and panicked and behaved in the way that he did.”

A compensation order was made of £61.60 for the cleaning of the cell.