A convicted burglar has lost his bid to sue police who sent him a Valentine's card.

Gary Williams claimed his girlfriend thought the card was from a love rival and threw an ashtray at him.

Williams, 26, was seeking a judicial review and claimed unspecified damages, arguing the card from Sussex Police was malicious and caused him distress.

A High Court judge dismissed the claim as a waste of public money.

Costs were awarded against Williams and he faces a bill of about £3,000.

He was entitled only to a small amount of legal aid.

Officers in Brighton sent ten Valentine's cards to criminals last year, complete with a lipstick "kiss" from a female crime analyst.

Detectives said they were meant as a lighthearted warning to let prolific offenders know police were keeping an eye on them.

Williams, formerly of Newick Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and now living in Kent, had just been released from prison after serving a 13-month sentence for burglary.