TWO bungling burglars were caught red-handed trying to steal from a Huntingdon pub opposite the town’s police station.

TWO bungling burglars were caught red-handed trying to steal from a Huntingdon pub opposite the town’s police station.

Carl Sexton and Kenneth Eastlake made so much noise during their early-morning raid on the �Territorial, in the High Street, that witnesses described it as like a “minor war”.

Sexton, 23, of Choppington, Northumberland, admitted his involvement in the burglary when he appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

He said he had been led on by Eastlake, who pleaded guilty at a previous hearing and is due to be sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court.

Prosecuting lawyer John Goodier said the pair forced their way into the pub at 5am on January 9. They smashed two gaming machines, removed the cash boxes, and damaged a fire door and a cigarette machine before being caught by police.

Mr Goodier said: “The complainants were upstairs asleep and were disturbed by the continual banging noise. Police were very close by and caught Sexton and the co-accused red-handed inside the pub.”

Defending lawyer Peter Vialls admitted the burglary was “cack-handed”.

He said: “Mr Sexton is a single man who travelled to Huntingdon with a friend for a family party. He and his friend had a significant amount to drink. He was led into this by his more experienced friend.

“Cack-handed, this job was. They were only yards away from the police station with sufficient noise. One witness described it as sounding like a minor war going on.

“They are not professionals. The defendant had no idea anyone was asleep in the premises. Otherwise, he would not have been persuaded to take part had he known.”

Magistrates ordered Sexton to appear at Peterborough Crown Court for sentencing. In the meantime he was granted bail on condition he lives and sleeps at his home address in Northumberland.