Man defecated on bench and smeared faeces on cell walls

A MAN who defecated on a public bench and smeared faeces over a police cell has been given a hospital order.

- By POPPY KENNEDY

Teesside Crown Court heard that it would be a “disaster” if Malcolm Wanless was released immediately.

The 68-year-old admitted a string of offences including outraging public decency after he was assessed as fit to plea but has since suffered a decline in his mental health and was moved from custody to a mental health hospital.

Wanless threw hot coffee at a worker while detained at a police station and on two occasions defecated in his cell and smeared faeces on the walls.

Ellen Wright, prosecuting, said: “Mr Wanless was in a custody suite at Middlesbrough Police Station when a worker attended at his cell to provide him with food.”

Teesside Crown Court heard how he took the food but then splashed the cup of coffee in to the woman’s face and hair.