A HOMELESS man who carried a pair of pliers around with him has been cleared of intending to use them to commit burglaries.

Mark Thursting, who was recently released from prison, was found with the tool and a piece of plastic in Wilbury Road, Hove, on January 25.

He was arrested and accused of appearing to try to use them to break into two homes on the street.

He denied the allegation as he stood trial yesterday at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

When asked to explain why he had the items, the 53-year-old, now of Portland Road, Hove, said: “I was homeless at the time and I had the piece of plastic to clean my nails. I was quite fastidious about my cleanliness and had OCD.

“The pliers were a useful tool when you are homeless, for opening cans and different things. I wore them around my neck.”

Magistrates cleared him of the charge and said they believed he was in possession of the items when he left HMP Rochester.

However, they found him guilty of kicking a police officer in his inner thigh when he was being taken into custody.

Thursting was held in custody for a day because he did not have any money to pay the £120 fine.