A man who smashed up a stairwell with a paving slab went on to flood his custody cell with toilet water.

Barry Close - a "habitual offender" in Gosport - also elbowed a police officer after being arrested over a violent rampage on September 16.

The 43-year-old damaged a bike, broke a window and smashed a stairwell at an address in San Diego Road.

Close, of no fixed abode, was charged with assault of an emergency worker, and two counts of criminal damage.

He pleaded guilty to the offices when he appeared before magistrates on September 18.

Appearing before Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday, Close was jailed for 18 months.

This included the activation of a suspended sentence which he was handed on August 11 for a burglary at the Stoke Emporium in Gosport, in which £30,000 worth of jewellery was stolen.

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Acting Sergeant Jon Stapenhill said: “Barry Close is a habitual offender who persistently causes issues for the community and businesses in Gosport.

“Police are committed to relentlessly pursuing these kinds of individuals and making Gosport a hostile place for them.

“They need to know that we will take robust action against them if they continue to offend, and I hope that the result in this case reassures the community of our commitment to do this.”