A homeless man who was subject of a suspended prison sentence deliberately damaged a police vehicle in the hope he would end up back behind bars, a court was told.

Desperate drug addict Gavin Little was seen behind a door at Stanley Police Station by two officers just finishing their shifts, at 3am on October 16.

Durham Crown Court heard that on being asked what he was doing there, Little replied that he had just damaged a van in the station car park and wanted to go back to prison.

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said on checking the vehicle a dent was found above a wheel arch which cost £80 to be repaired.

Mr Gittins said it was frustrating for police personnel serving at Stanley as it left the station temporarily without the vehicle while the repairs were carried out to the van.

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Little told police he kicked it three to four times as he had nowhere to live and did not want to freeze.

He said his mental health was “not good” and he felt that the best thing for him would be the activation of a suspended sentence he was subject of for the last few months.

Mr Gittins said Little received an eight-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, at the court for dangerous driving in May.

But he said Little had not engaged well on the community aspect of the order, falling behind both with completed unpaid work hours and probation rehabilitation activity sessions imposed as an alternative to immediate custody, in May.

The 36-year-old defendant, formerly of Bronte Place, in Stanley, admitted a charge of criminal damage and breaching the suspended sentence order at a recent hearing.

Mr Gittins said Little’s record features 19 convictions for 25 offences, including past crimes of criminal damage.

Helen Towers, in mitigation, said her client has now spent several weeks in custody during which he has been receiving the correct medication for a borderline personality disorder.

“At the time of the recent offence, he had split with his partner, come off his medication, and, alternatively, ‘self-medicated’ by taking drugs.”

She said since he was remanded in custody an offer of accommodation has now been made by a friend and the defendant also has the prospect of work with a roofing and paving company.

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“So, it’s a very different picture than a month ago.

“He asks if he can be ordered to comply with a drug rehabilitation requirement as he’s been working with the DARTS (drug and alcohol rehabilitation teams) teams while in custody.”

Judge James Adkin asked for a probation assessment to be made on Little to see if he would comply with a drug rehabilitation requirement as an alternative to custody.

He adjourned the hearing for that assessment to be made.

Little was remanded in custody pending completion of the assessment and will be sentenced next Monday (November 21).

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