A MAN who claimed to have visited a social club in the early hours to pick up cigarette ends has been found guilty of burglary.
David Sweeney, of Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, was forced to pay compensation to the Carr Lane Social Club after smashing through two internal doors, causing more than £1,000 damage.
Sweeney, 45 – who fled the scene when the alarm went off – was convicted after trial at Grimsby Magistrates' Court.
Brendan Woodward, prosecuting, told the court that club stewardess Debra Hall had left the premises locked and secured on August 3.
"A resident on Carr Lane saw the defendant cycling to the car park on his bike with a rucksack at 5.30am," said Mr Woodward.
"She thought it was suspicious, so kept him on observation."
Sweeney was spotted trying the double doors to the club, before walking round to the smoking area.
Mr Woodward continued: "He was pulling at the doors with both arms to force the doors and then entered the pub.
"He then heard the alarm activate and was seen emerging from the double doors."
The resident saw Sweeney cycling away from the scene with the rucksack and she called the police.
When they arrived at the scene, they heard the alarm and found that both sets of double doors had been forced. Shortly afterwards, Sweeney was arrested.
The wooden doors had been forced around the locks, but apart from damage to both the doors, nothing had been taken.
During the trial, Sweeney said he had gone to the club to pick up tab-ends at night as he was "embarrassed" to do so during the day.
He said he went inside through curiosity and denied forcing the shutters.
Sweeney said he decided to leave when he heard the alarm and that he did not bring a rucksack to the area.
Nick Furman, mitigating, said: "There is a lot of positive to be said of Mr Sweeney. He is somebody who does hold positive attitudes to the community.
"This is an isolated incident and he would like to think he could help the community in some aspect."
Sweeney was given a 12-month community order, 200 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay the social club £1,350 compensation for the damage caused to both the doors.