A RUBBISH collecting pensioner claimed his TV fame led to him committing a crime.

Dennis Bostock, who is known as The Womble of Blackpool, was featured in last month's TV documentary, Filthy Homes from Hell because of his habit of collecting rubbish and filling his home with it.

The pensioner's notoriety via the media was this week blamed for him being homeless and getting into trouble with the law.

Bostock, aged 67, of no fixed address, admitted damaging a window at The Coffee Pot cafe on the resort's Birley Street.

He was given a six months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damage by magistrates at Blackpool, Lancashire.

Prosecutor, Brett Gerrity, said at 4.15am on Sunday (August 22) two youths saw the defendant kick and break the cafe window.

The prosecutor added: "The defendant said to the youths he wanted to get locked up for somewhere to stay."

Defence lawyer, Steven Duffy, said Bostock was sleeping in a shop doorway when he was awoken and felt he was being threatened. He wanted the youths to leave him alone.

The defence said: "He is known in Blackpool as a result of coverage in newspapers and on television.

"He feels that has excluded him from guest-houses and hotel accommodation. It is very sad. He is 67 and is sleeping rough.

"He has the wherewithal to pay but because of press and TV coverage he feels he will not be welcome at these establishments."

On several occasions Blackpool Council had removed tons of rubbish, including takeaway cartons and food remains, from Bostock's previous home in Bloomfield Road.

The home was eventually sold to pay for the council's multi-thousand pound clean-up bill and Mr Bostock ended up in Preston Prison for a month for non-payment of his bills.

At the end of the TV programme Bostock was described as: "A man of means who was looking to buy a new home."