A MAN was fined yesterday after he admitted breaking into a police station.

Michael Richmond went to report an attack. But when he found the station's door locked and no-one answered his calls, he smashed his way in.

However, prosecutor Paula Jack told Harrogate Magistrates Court that Richmond, 41, had in fact broken into an unmanned administration department of Knaresborough police station rather than the operational area.

He dialled 999 on his mobile phone - and was promptly arrested when officers turned up.

Richmond, of Strawberry Dale, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to causing £146.49 damage to a door and £482.26 damage to a patrol car parked opposite.

The court heard he was in breach of a conditional discharge imposed ten days before the offences - for damage to a door. Richmond was made subject to a 12-month community rehabilitation order and told to pay costs of £50 as well as £314.38 compensation - half the police damage bill.

Geoffrey Rogers, for Richmond, said he was an epileptic who had suffered a blackout and thought he had been attacked when he came round with cuts to his head