A MAN sparked a five-hour stand off with police in Lowestoft town centre, a court heard this week.

Armed police and trained negotiators were called to Trafalgar House in London Road North on Monday after Stephen Daly, 39, smashed the room he was staying in.

After a five-hour stand off which saw police seal off the top of London Road North, officers stormed Daly's room and arrested him.

Appearing before Lowestoft magistrates on Wednesday, Daly, of no fixed abode, admitted causing criminal damage to his room in the Genesis Housing Group building and damaging a police cell.

Corinne Gook-Hurren, prosecuting, said Daly had smashed up every piece of furniture in his housing association room causing �2,000 of damage, having come to Trafalgar House after being moved from Cambridge.

Ed Proffitt, mitigating, said his client's behaviour was down to a mixture of drinking while he was on medication combined with his mental health problems. He was now homeless because of Monday's incident but it was hoped he would be given emergency bed and breakfast accommodation.

Daly, who had previous convictions for possessing heroin, false representations and theft, was placed him on a 12-month community order, under which he will be supervised.