LESS than 48 hours after leaving prison a homeless drunk was back in the cells for an act of vandalism that outraged Swindon.

Salisbury magistrates sent Ashwani Kumar back to jail for eight weeks after the 54-year-old admitted a charge of offending public decency by hurling poppy wreaths left at the town's cenotaph.

But he said he was ashamed of his actions and did not hate British patriotism.

The court heard Kumar had sunk three quarters of a bottle of vodka on Friday night, before stumbling to the cenotaph and lobbing up to 50 poppy wreaths across Regent Circus.

His vandalism was captured on CCTV. When he was shown the footage by police on Sunday, rough sleeper Kumar admitted throwing the wreaths, but said he could not remember doing it because he was drunk and had not been able to take medication for a mental health condition.

Chairman of the bench Simon Crichton said: “You would have caused a great offence to many people both who live in Swindon and who have any connection to those names on the war memorial.”

The action could also offend those who had connections to other war memorials or who had laid wreaths at Remembrance Sunday commemorations, Mr Crichton added. “That makes this matter a serious matter and it is further made serious that you committed this offence on Sunday after being released from prison and made subject to post-sentence supervision.”

Prosecuting, Ryan Seneviratne described Kumar’s actions on the night: “He is stood away from the memorial for a couple of minutes, is looking around the location and has then gone up to the war memorial to select anything up to 50 poppy wreaths and thrown them around in what police describe as an aggressive and erratic manner.”

When he was picked up by police on Sunday, Kumar was asked by officers whether he hated British patriotism. “No, not at all,” he replied. He had lived in Britain for 34 years and would visit memorials to pay his respects.

Appearing before the Salisbury court by video link from Gablecross Police Station, grey-bearded Kumar apologised for his "shameful" actions: “I have been 34 years here and I have never done anything like this.”

He said he normally received medication for a mental health issue, but had not been able to get his prescription when he was released from prison on Friday. Without it, there was a danger he would hear noises.

Kumar was sleeping rough in a car park behind Swindon Magistrates’ Court at the time of the offence, the Salisbury bench was told.

He pleaded guilty to a separate charge of being drunk and disorderly at Swindon probation office in Old Town on December 20.

As well as the two-month prison sentence, he was ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

Veterans' charity the Royal British Legion was shocked by Kumar's act of vandalism.

The homeless man scattered poppy wreaths that had been laid at the Cenotaph on November 11 on the centenary of the First World War Armistice.

A spokeswoman said: “The Legion is greatly disturbed to hear of this incident. War memorials and graves honour the unique contribution and sacrifices of the British armed forces. They deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.”