A BURGLAR who smashed his way into a village sports club to do wanton damage and raid the safe containing charity cash has been spared a custodial sentence.

Cody Ferguson was one of two intruders in balaclavas who targeted Silsden Sports Club in the early hours of January 19 last year to cause loss and damage of £7,000.

Ferguson, 19 at the time and now 20, pleaded guilty to entering the premises as a trespasser to steal the money and safe, together valued at £2,928.

Prosecutor Mehran Nassiri told Bradford Crown Court today that the club had hosted a charity event the night before and the premises was left locked and secured.

Ferguson, of Brooklyn Drive, Cleckheaton, was seen on CCTV breaking into the premises on Keighley Road by forcing a rear door and damaging the shutters.

Mr Nassiri said the intruders then pushed their way into the bar and went down to the cellar where the safe was. It was secured to the wall but they managed to break it free and make off with it.

The court heard that £2,436 was in the safe, made up of takings and charitable donations. The safe itself was valued at £356.

More than £4,000 damage was caused to the club by the break-in and wanton vandalism.

The court heard in mitigation that Ferguson deeply regretted his behaviour and was more than willing to pay compensation to the club.

The offence was motivated by his financial problems at the time and he had since turned his life around.

He had committed no further offences, found work and was in a stable relationship.

Ferguson had expressed his “genuine and sincere remorse” to his probation officer and in a letter to the judge.

He had no previous convictions for offences of dishonesty and his background had not been an easy one.

This was a grave error of judgement on his part, the court heard.

He had since worked hard to rebuild his life and move it forward.

Judge Jonathan Rose sentenced Ferguson to 22 months in a young offender institution, suspended for two years, with 250 hours of unpaid work. He must pay the club £3,500 compensation at £200 a month.

Judge Rose said the burglary was a team expedition that caused substantial loss. The raiders took tools to break into the building and steal the safe.

But Ferguson was 19 at the time: “young, immature and beyond foolish.”

In the past 16 months, he had turned his life around, finding employment and gaining family responsibility.