A BLANKET and mattress in a police cell were destroyed by a drunk Hereford man when he set them on fire.

Ionel Ciorascu entered a guilty plea to one count of being drunk and disorderly in a public place and one count of arson when he appeared before Hereford Magistrates’ Court this month.

He was found to be drunk and behaving in a disorderly way in Commercial Road on February 17, and to have destroyed a blanket and mattress belonging to West Mercia Police on the same day, the court heard.

He was said to have intended to destroy or damage the property or been reckless as to whether the property would be destroyed.

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The damage to the blanket and mattress was valued at £200, according to prosecutor Lauren Millichip.

Ciorascu, of Birch Grove, who was defended at the hearing by Chris Read, was ordered to pay £50 in compensation to police, and a £246 fine.

The 40-year-old must also pay prosecution costs of £185 and a victim surcharge of £98.