A HOMELESS man appeared in court after he broke into a campervan to sleep during a cold night.

Anthony Rennie Sheckley broke into the camper van on Newlaithes Avenue in Carlisle on August 4.

Diane Jackson told Carlisle's magistrates' court on Wednesday: "At 6.20am Christine Potts saw her husband's motorhome had a smashed window.

"She called police and found a pair of trainers outside the motorhome."

Mrs Jackson described how a concerned Mrs Potts then went back into her home while she waited for officers to arrive.

"Police found Mr Sheckley, who could make no reasonable excuse of why he was in the motorhome.

"They searched him and found three Valium tablets in his possession."

Sheckley, 51, caused £150 in damage during the break-in.

John Smith, defending, outlined how Sheckley had previously served six year prison sentence and had been homeless ever since.

Upon his release the probation service found him some accommodation at Lynebank House Hotel in Westlinton.

"Essentially he's not been able to get there, I don't know how he would get there from the centre of Carlisle," outlined Mr Smith.

"He had been staying with friends but he couldn't stay there any longer."

Mr Smith said his client cooperated with police.

"He left his shoes outside and when police found him he admitted the offence straight away."

Sheckley admitted charges of criminal damage and possession of Valium - a class C drug - at the city's magistrates' court.

"He told police that he had, in the past, been prescribed Valium but that it was no longer prescribed to him as you can't get them in prison as it is a marketable commodity," continued Mr Smith.

"He felt he needed some and bought what he believed to be street Valium."

Mr Smith said the impact on he victims in this case - Mr and Mrs Potts - was relatively low.

He did acknowledge that it would have been a troubling situation for them, however.

District Judge Gerald Chalk told Sheckley he would have caused stress to Mr and Mrs Potts, although he accepted this was not his intention.

"They didn't know you just went there to sleep," he said.

He fined Sheckley a total of £40, ordered him to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service, a £34 victim surcharge and £150 in compensation.

"You mustn't repeat this behaviour," added Judge Chalk.