Inmate blamed 'mouse' after allegedly smashing up prison cell

Officers said to have found £1,000 of damage

A serving inmate at the prison in Jurby has blamed a mouse after he allegedly smashed up his cell causing £1,000 worth of damage.

Thirty-five-year-old Mark Phillip David Galbraith appeared at Douglas Courthouse where he entered no plea to criminal damage on 18 November.

Prison officers were said to have discovered he'd broken furniture, fixtures and fittings in his A-wing cell.

The court heard Galbraith, who represented himself during the hearing, was currently serving a four-year jail term.

He claimed to have panicked and caused the damage after finding a mouse in his cell adding the prison had a rodent infestation.

Galbraith told the court he'd already admitted damaging his cell and had been punished for the disciplinary infraction under prison rules.

His case was adjourned and he'll next appear at a pre-trial review on 26 April.