A PRISONER who carried out a ‘dirty protest’ in a police cell was jailed for 27 months.

Robert Muir, 30, defecated while being held at Cathcart police office in April.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard a “heavily intoxicated” Muir had earlier been arrested for another matter. The dad-of-one was kept in a cell but was subjected to a check two hours later.

Prosecutor Adele Macdonald said: “It was noted that he had defecated in the cell area and had put his faeces over the cell area. This caused police staff to be at risk of infection.”

Muir wasn’t cautioned or charged at the time due to his state of intoxication and the risk of infection to officers. He pleaded guilty to culpable and reckless conduct while on bail.

Lawyer Michael McKeown, defending, told the court had little recollection of the incident as he had taken heroin.

Sheriff Alan Mackenzie said: “You pleaded guilty to an offence that put police staff and force officers at risk of infection and illness.

“These are the very ones who routinely put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.

“I take a very serious view of this offence and that’s particularly so in light of your record of offending.”