Shamed soccer thug Marlon King has taken up ART classes to help control his temper as he serves time behind bars.

The disgraced former Premiership striker spends an hour each morning painting watercolours.

"Marlon says it calms him down. He gets so pent up and aggressive - he just flips," said a prison source. "Every morning after his exercises and breakfast, he goes down to the art room.

"He started off doing bits of fruit and last week he painted a model car.

"The other inmates find it hilarious but he says he likes the peace and tranquillity of it down there."

One-time £40,000-a- week Wigan star King, 30, was persuaded to take up the hobby by staff at HMP Wayland, Norfolk, where he is serving an 18-month sentence for sexual assault.

He attacked Emily Carr, 20, and beat her up when she turned down his advances in a nightclub.

Good for him indeed. It is not good for him to do ****s like this.