TWO men who stole the flag flying at a police station in a "mindless prank" after they were released from custody will have to pay £150 for a new one.

Brandon Wilson, 20, and Kyle Crumlish, 19, were caught on CCTV lowering the Wiltshire Police standard at Melksham divisional police headquarters and stuffing it into a rucksack on January 30.

The pair had just been released from the cells after being arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis.

Both men admitted stealing the flag when they appeared separately a Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday.

The court heard Crumlish, of St Edmund's Church Street, Salisbury had lowered the flag, before Wilson, of Rollestone Street, Salisbury had ripped it from the rope.

Defending Wilson, Paul Jones said it was a "mindless prank".

For Crumlish, Richard Griffiths said the flag had since been returned, but prosecutor Pauline Lambert said she had no evidence to suggest that was the case.

Mr Griffiths described the offence as a piece of "immature behaviour" by a couple of young men who should have been cautioned.

"Whether [Wiltshire Police] dig their heels in when it's their own flag rather than someone else's I don't know," added Mr Griffiths, who later suggested the police had a "conflict of interest" in bringing the case to court.

"It's disappointing a young man who has no previous convictions couldn't be cautioned," he said.

Fining Crumlish £90 with £75 compensation and a £30 victim surcharge, Magistrate Nicholas Stephens said: "You had just been released from police custody but instead of going home you decided to rip the flag off the pole."

Wilson, who was already serving a suspended prison sentence for possessing drugs with intent to supply, was sent to crown court for sentencing on a date to be confirmed.

Mr Jones said: "This is obviously not the most serious offence in the world," adding that it would not be in the interests of justice to activate Wilson's suspended sentence.