A THIEF smashed a holiday park's CCTV cameras with a hammer before escaping with £1,200 from games machines.

Committing that offence put amphetamine user Kevin Hesselden in breach of a community order he was given last August for burglary and weapon possession offences.

Prosecuting, Jack Troup said 27-year-old Hesselden had then been seen on CCTV burgling Fresh Fire and Security in Nelson. When police stopped him they found him holding a bag containing a police baton and a knife.

The court heard Hesselden breached the community order further last September by committing the theft and damage offence at St Mary's Holiday Park near Prestatyn.

As well as taking the cash, Hesselden, of Duckworth Street, Barrowford, caused £200 damage to the cameras and £300 damage to the games room.

Hesselden, who has 45 convictions for 74 offences, pleaded guilty to theft, criminal damage and breaching a community order.

Defending, Katie Jones said her client had been bullied by another man into committing crime but his father had now got him back on the straight and narrow.

Ms Jones said: "His instructions are he wants to stay clean of drugs. He wants to be a father to his small baby who is now five months old."

Jailing Hesselden for 12 months, Judge Sara Dodd said: "The reality is I have no confidence at all you will be able to keep out of trouble."