A Keighley man out celebrating an award of compensation from a health trust drank too much and ended up trashing a police cell, Skipton magistrates heard.

Wayne McAlister, 41, had been fighting Bradford Health Trust following a misdiagnosis in 2008, but in March had learned he was to receive compensation, the court was told last Wednesday.

But he ended up being arrested and taken to Skipton Police Station, where he damaged CCTV cameras, was violent and kicked a police officer.

In the early hours of March 16, two police officers discovered McAlister standing on the toilet in his cell with a T-shirt wrapped around his neck as if he was preparing to hang himself, the court was told.

The officers got him down, resulting in a struggle between McAlister and the two officers.

McAlister was violent and abusive and recklessly kicked one of the officers on the thigh.

He also damaged two cameras and smeared what was believed to be faeces over the cell.

McAlister, who pleaded guilty in July to criminal damage and violent behaviour at a police station, had originally denied assaulting a police officer, but changed his plea last Wednesday before the trial was due to take place. The court heard in mitigation that McAlister and a friend had been celebrating a “moral” victory over the Bradford health trust.

He had been suing the trust since 2007 over a misdiagnosis which had resulted in him having to have operations.

But, he had drunk too much and the celebrations had gone wrong. McAlister, of Queens Road, was given a 12-month conditional discharge for each of the three offences and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the police officer. He was also ordered to pay £407.37 to the police for the damage and £50 costs.