Man smeared '˜give me my meds' in excrement in police cell

Martin Howard had been arrested following a dispute with officers when he was reporting a crime.

The 40-year-old, of Moss Lane, Platt Bridge, had called police after he had been robbed at knifepoint.

While in his cell, he says he was denied his medication and toilet roll which lead him to carrying out his disgusting act.

Prosecutor Alan Bakker said: “He was arrested on June 28 at 12.20am for a public order offence.

“He had to be physically restrained and placed in a cell.

“The defendant requested a drink and when the officer returned, it was discovered he had defecated in his cell and had smeared it on the wall, door and spy hole.

“He then requested a shower and after that he was charged and bailed.”

Martin Jones, defending, explained how the arrest came about.

In a series of events that has led to Howard making an official complaint about the way he was treated by police, it’s claimed that he was denied legal assistance, toilet roll and his medication.

“The previous day he was robbed at knifepoint in his own home,” said Mr Jones.

“He and two friends managed to disarm the gentleman in question and took the knife and that crime was reported to police.

“The expectation was that the police would come and deal with matters post haste.

“I’m told by him and his witnesses that six hours later they hadn’t arrived and the two friends said he should go with them and stay at another house.

“While there police turned up and he says they were totally unsympathetic and made comments along the lines of ‘are you sure you are not imagining this?’

“They belittled him and made disparaging comments with regards to his mental health.

“With that he took out his key and said he would harm himself with it.”

Mr Jones told how police threatened to Taser Howard which diffused the situation and he was then arrested for “his own protection”.

Mr Jones told how his client has made a complaint to police after also claiming he was “dropkicked by an officer to his back”.

Howard was handed a 12-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to criminal damage.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to go towards cleaning costs as well as £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.