A THIEF who stole more than £750-worth of booze from his old workplace has been ordered to carry out more than 200 hours of unpaid work. 

Andrew Stewart Bell, a former employee at the General Burgoyne, was found to have stolen the alcohol from the Urswick pub after police followed a trail of smashed bottles leading to his home. 

The 30-year-old, of Beechfield, Little Urswick, had gone to the pub as a customer on September 5, before returning in the night and stealing alcohol from the cellar. 

He admitted burglary last month and was sentenced when he appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court on Thursday. 

He was ordered to pay compensation of £96.48 to the pub, as the rest of the alcohol was recovered, a £60 victim surcharge, £85 prosecution service costs and a £180 court charge. 

He was given a community order, with the requirements that he must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and participate in an alcohol treatment programme.

On the night of the offence, Bell introduced himself to the landlord Brian Hazlehurst and told him he used to work there for the previous boss.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, told the court last month that Bell left at around midnight in an "intoxicated state".

The landlord had gone to bed and heard a loud bang shortly afterwards, but thought nothing of it, as a barman was staying the night.

However, the next afternoon, staff noticed stock was missing from the cellar and police were called to investigate.

Officers inspected the road from the pub and found a trail of broken bottles leading to the Kirk Flatt area of the village, where Bell was staying.

Residents told police they heard the sound of bottles smashing at around 5am, while bottles of spirits were found in a wheelie bin, and alcohol in his shed.

The bottles could be identified due to distinctive brewery stickers.

Mr Trystan Roberts, defending, said Bell, who had been staying near the pub with his partner and children, was having drink problems - which had recently led to his life "circling out of control".

Due to his issues with alcohol, magistrates asked for a pre-sentence report before sentencing him on Thursday.