A MAN caused nearly £5,000 worth of damage to his council flat through some dodgy DIY, a court heard.

Simon Hughes, aged 40, carried out the work between June 20 and November 22 last year at the flat in Salters Lane, Batchley, belonging to Redditch Council, Worcester Crown Court was told.

When the flat was inspected, it was found to need repairs of £4,716, Gary Cook, prosecuting, told the court.

Hughes, now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a charge of destroying property.

Siobhan Collins, defending, said the damage was not caused deliberately.

"It was caused during the course of DIY and he was simply trying to make improvements to his flat," she said.

Hughes had been in custody on remand since April 14 this year, much longer than the maximum sentence of 12 weeks that could be imposed for the offence, she told the court.

Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins, QC, gave him a sentence of 10 weeks which would trigger his immediate release.