A thief who stole a woman’s rabbit and guinea pig from their hutches in her garden told police he didn’t know he had done it until he woke up the next morning to find the animals running round his flat.

Merlin Quinnan, 21, of Fore Street, Redruth, admitted the theft when he appeared before Truro magistrates, also stealing a mountain bike, and four offences of criminal damage to cars and a motor cycle. He asked for three other offences to be taken into account and admitted a second breach of a conditional discharge.

Gail Hawkley, for the CPS, said in one of the cases of damage the car had cost £483 to repair. He had been seen kicking it, and on another occasion using a Stanley blade to scrape down the side of a vehicle.

Paul Gallagher, his solicitor, spoke of his behaviour as being bizarre, saying there was an element of mental health problems, alcohol and drugs. He had been admitted to hospital a few days ago having said he had taken an overdose of paracetamol but doctors could find no trace of it in him.

Ms Hawkley told the magistrates that while in custody Quinnan had tried to harm himself in a police cell.

The case was adjourned to October 3 and defendant given bail until then with a curfew order for each night.