Two burglars who broke into a newly-opened Bradford city centre coffee shop, prompting the owner to sleep on the floor to protect his business, have been branded “immature fools” by a judge.

Chadwick Bell, 19, and Allan Sproat, 21, both of Heaton Road, Manningham, were sentenced to 12 months’ custody, suspended for two years, ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and given six month overnight curfew orders at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Jonathan Rose told them: “This is your opportunity to repay the harm that you have done.”

Prosecutor Philip Standfast said Bell admitted two burglaries and two thefts and asked for eight further offences of burglary to be taken into consideration.

Sproat admitted the same two burglaries, one of the thefts and asked for two burglaries to be considered.

On September 27, Bell and a juvenile stole five fire extinguishers from the NCP car park on Southgate, Bradford, and set them off. He and Sproat then stole five replacement fire extinguishers from the same car park on October 5 and discharged them.

The following day, the pair burgled Refresh coffee shop in Cheapside overnight, causing £300 damage and stealing confectionery and soft drinks.

Mr Standfast said the cafe’s owner, Chris Miles, was devastated by the second attack on his premises in days. He was so worried, he began sleeping on the floor at the business.

Bell and Sproat next struck at Creative Ceilings and Floors in Sunbridge Road, Bradford. They smashed their way in, causing hundreds of pounds of damage and stole fireworks to the value of £1,000.

The burglaries were caught on CCTV and the pair were arrested.

Tom Rushbrooke, solicitor advocate representing both of them, said they now realised it was “stupid and pointless behaviour”. The offences were committed over two weeks and the defendants were immediately frank with the police about what they had done.

Judge Rose said: “You are immature fools who have caused loss, harm and damage to the community.”