A 44-year-old man with a string of 186 offences of damage since 1985 admitted smashing windows in Shipley town centre when drunk.

David Beecroft, of Bradford Road, Frizinghall, Bradford, pleaded guilty at Bingley Magistrates’ Court today to damaging the windows at the Card Factory and Specsavers on February 1.

He had been to a pantomime that evening and drank four halves of lager, the bench heard.

Magistrates, who adjourned sentencing pending reports, learned that Beecroft had made 105 court appearances in his life, most sparked by alcohol.

Police were called to Wellcroft, Shipley, and saw Beecroft staggering about and then fall over as he tried to run away. He told them he had called the police to tell them of the damage he had caused.

In mitigation his solicitor, Glen Chivers, said Beecroft was already the subject of supervised living which kept him occupied during the week.

But the weekends saw him on his own, he was bought drinks and often became frustrated with the way people treated him.

Beecroft was remanded on bail until March 4.