A FORMER Buckingham Palace guard has admitted taking part in a failed warehouse burglary in which £261,000 worth of damage was caused by a fire.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Andrew Harvey went to the EFG warehouse, at Hartlepool docks, with Christopher Raw on July 26.

The court was told Raw was so inebriated he could not remember starting a fire at the warehouse.

Tom Mitchell, prosecuting, said the 21-year-old had gone into the building with Harvey intending to steal property.

But he became angry after he discovered there was nothing worth taking, so began daubing timber pallets with the words Big Rat, his nickname.

Realising the graffiti could lead to his arrest, Raw used his lighter and an aerosol to start the fire.

Mr Mitchell said: "There was significant and substantial damage to the warehouse."

The court heard £200,000 of damage was caused to the building, £50,000 to a forklift truck and £11,000 to timber inside the property.

Sarah Mallett, in mitigation for Raw, said it had been a burglary that went wrong.

She said: "The defendant was clearly under the influence of drink and drugs and has a limited recollection of events.

"It was not a pre-planned offence. If it had been, he would not have left his name there."

Raw, of Haven Walk, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to arson and burglary.

Harvey, 23, of Old Cemetery Road, Hartlepool, said he was only at the building to act as a lookout. He pleaded guilty to burglary.

Mike Bosomworth, in mitigation, said Harvey, a heroin addict, had been drinking heavily and foolishly went along with Raw.

He said Harvey tried to stop him and had attempted to put out the fire.

Raw was sentenced to three years in prison for arson and nine months for burglary.

Sentencing against Harvey was adjourned for a drug treatment testing order assessment.