A 25-year-old has admitted he went on a damage spree in Ipswich in a ploy to get himself arrested.

Police were alerted after Daniel Burrrows was seen on CCTV by a security guard smashing windows at McColl’s newsagents in Sailmakers shopping centre at around 5am on December 11 last year.

The guard continued to watch 25-year-old Burrows who went on to smash windows at Iceland, Crown Pools and Haart estate agents, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

When police officers arrived on the scene Burrows refused to drop the metal bar he was holding and said: “What took you so long? I’ve smashed about ten windows,” said Andrew Thompson, prosecuting.

Burrows had then dropped the metal bar before pulling out a pair of scissors which he pointed in the direction of a policeman.

When he was told the officers were going to use CS spray, Burrows pulled a scarf round his face before eventually dropping the scissors and the metal bar which he had briefly picked up again.

After his arrest he told officers he was a vampire and said he had the scissors because he wanted to cut off his hair and burn it.

Burrows, of no fixed address, admitted 13 offences of damaging property at Bowmans Bar and Lounge in Queen Street, Crown Pools, Belvoir estate agents in Crown Street, Haart estate agents, Gentlemans Relish hairdressers and Mecca Bingo in Lloyds Avenue, the Iceland store in Sailmakers, Tennial Personnel and Bedwells Florist in Northgate Street, McColl’s newsagents, Ladbrokes, Cash Converters and an address in Lloyd’s Avenue.

He also admitted threatening a police officer with a pair of scissors.

He was given a two year community order and a 60 day rehabilitation requirement with a condition that he engages with the community mental health service.

Sentencing him, Judge David Goodin said it appeared Burrows’ had wanted to get himself arrested and his peculiar behaviour had been a “cry for help”.

He said Burrows had been in custody since December and this allowed him to pass a community order.

Paul Donegan, for Burrows, said his client had no previous convictions and was wiling to co-operate with mental health services.