A 33-YEAR-OLD man who had argued with his girlfriend engineered a night in police cells rather than go home and face the music.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Shaun Varley scratched the top of the police station inquiry desk with a 20p piece in full view of an officer and was arrested.

Varley, of Beech Grove, Accrington, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £40 costs.

Judith Balderson, prosecuting, said Varley had been asked to leave the police station because he did not appear to have any business there.

"He began to scratch the counter with a 20p coin and ignored a request to stop," said Miss Balderson.

Graham Parkinson, defending, said Varley had gone to the police station expecting to be arrested on a warrant.

"When he wasn't arrested he decided to make sure he was," said Mr Parkinson.

"He had had an argument with his girlfriend and he wanted to stay in the cells for a night rather than go and face her.

"He is going to have to go back to his girlfriend and try and patch things up."