A homeless artist has admitted damaging a multimillion pound masterpiece at London’s Tate Modern gallery.

Wlodzimierz Umaniec, from Worthing, also known as Vladimir Umanets, pleaded guilty at Camberwell Green Magistrate’s Court yesterday to criminal damage in excess of £5,000 to a Mark Rothko painting.

The Polish national of no fixed abode was arrested after the mural, Black on Maroon, was vandalised on October 7.

The 26-year-old has been released on conditional bail, which dictates he cannot go to the Tate Modern.

He will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court at a later date.