A HOMELESS man caused £300 worth of damage in an attempt to get himself arrested, a court heard.

Craig O'Callaghan, aged 31, pleaded guilty to throwing stones at the window of an MFI store after trying "all day to get arrested" on Sunday.

Peter Leather, defending, told Bolton magistrates, that O'Callaghan was desperate to get arrested so he would have a roof over his head.

O'Callaghan had previously been told to leave the Salvation Army accommodation after he was unable to pay the rent.

Mr Leather said: "He felt he needed help from the probation service and asked officers to arrest him.

"He was left homeless and was sleeping in a doorway, where he was mugged. He was in a desperate situation.

"There seems to be a lack of support from society. Here we have a human being crying out for help."

Magistrates said that the time O'Callaghan had served in custody following the offence would be the time served for his offence.

A previous outstanding cost of £93 was written off and O'Callaghan was advised to seek help from probation.