TWO drunken men smashed their way into a village pub to steal money because they mistakenly thought the landlord had stolen from a cancer charity, a court heard yesterday.

Ricky Jennings, 23, had been drinking in The Fox and Hounds pub in Trimdon Village on January 11, with 24-year-old Neil McKeown when the pair overheard the tale.

They later returned to the pub after it had closed.

Jennings smashed an upstairs window and ran downstairs to unlock the back door to let in McKeown.

Paula Sanderson, prosecuting, said: “The till was taken containing around £540 and so was a bottle of rum from behind the bar.

“The empty till was later found near the premises covered in blood, which DNA testing showed to be from Mr Jennings.

“The bottle of rum was also found, and DNA from the neck of the bottle matched with that of Mr McKeown.”

Both men were arrested and confessed to the crime after they were told about the DNA matches.

Rory Todd, mitigating for both men, said: “Mr McKeown said they targeted the pub because they had overheard a story about the landlord collecting money for MacMillan Cancer Support and not handing it over.

The collected money had, in fact, been handed over to the charity.

“They say acted out of revenge. Mr Jennings has admitted that it was his idea, and says he now feels sick because he knows he has done wrong.”

He added: “The men have since apologised to the landlord and returned £440.

“They have both been banned from the pub for a month, but are allowed back in from the beginning of next month.

“They are not the type of lads who routinely do things like this.”

Jennings, of Wynyard Road, Trimdon Village, and McKeown, of Dunelm Road, Trimdon Station, both pleaded guilty to burglary at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court.

District Judge Martin Walker said: “You should know that commercial burglaries are not treated lightly and quite often the burglar is imprisoned.”

Jennings was sentenced to 100 hours’ unpaid work to be completed within four weeks, and McKeown was given a four-week, 8pm-7am, curfew. Both men were ordered to pay £180 compensation to the victim.