AN Aberystwyth man who smashed a glass panel in a cell at Swansea Crown Court was trying to get someone’s attention as he was thirsty, magistrates have heard.

David Robert Lloyd, 23, was kept in a cell at the court because of “manpower issues” when he shouldn’t have been there, his solicitor said.

While Lloyd, of 44 Queens Street, admitted criminal damage after breaking the glass panel, defence solicitor Alan Lewis said he had not intended to cause any damage, but had been left frustrated when he was left in the crown court cell all day when he should have been transferred to a nearby prison.

Prosecutor Rhian Jones said an officer had heard a loud bang in the cell where Lloyd was being held and found that there was a large crack in a glass panel.

Ms Jones said the panel would cost £300 to repair and when speaking to the officer, Lloyd admitted that he had hit the panel and it had cracked.

Mr Lewis though said Lloyd had been recalled on prison licence, but after spending a day at Aber­ystwyth Police Station he then had to stay in the cell at Swansea Crown Court when a fellow prisoner was transported to the court because of a lack of manpower.

He said Lloyd had been thirsty and had been trying to get the attention of an officer when he hit the panel, but hadn’t intended to cause any damage.

Mr Lewis said Lloyd had stayed out of trouble recently and had been getting help from a variety of agencies.

Lloyd was given a six-month conditional discharge, but will have to pay compensation of £300 and costs totalling £105.