A DRUG intoxicated inmate at Greenock Prison trashed a specialist cell in a valium-fuelled rage and caused more than £5,000 worth of damage.

Prison officers donned full body armour before dealing with violent Dale Montague, who was using smashed-up items in an attempt to barricade the door.

Montague, 34, damaged and destroyed prison property after being moved to an observation cell because he was heavily under the influence.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how he had earlier been found to be 'unresponsive and slumped in a chair' during a routine check of his own cell.

Prosecutor Gemma Barclay — who tendered photos of the damage — said: "As a result, he was taken to an observation cell.

"A short time afterwards the accused started to cause the damage shown in the photos.

"He attempted to smash the observation glass and he damaged any items that he could within the cell.

"The accused began to barricade the cell door with the material."

Montague — whom the court heard is currently remanded in custody on a High Court matter — caused a total of £5,586 worth of damage on the evening of August 5 last year.

He had also been charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, adopting an aggressive demeanour and repeatedly threatening a guard with violence, however, his not guilty plea to this allegation was accepted by the Crown.

His lawyer said: "Mr Montague is 37 years of age and has spent far too much of his adult life in custody.

"This is down to the choices he'd made through substance abuse."

The solicitor told the court that his client had taken what he thought were valium tablets that 'turned out to be much stronger'.

Montague spent 14 days in isolation, had no access to recreation and suffered a loss of jail 'wages' as a result of his behaviour.

His lawyer added: "He anticipates, even in a best case scenario, that he will spend the next few years in custody.

"Mr Montague does regret his choices and he understands the cost of the damage he caused."

Sheriff Michael Higgins imposed a 162-day prison sentence.