Adam Thompson, 23, of no fixed address, and Nigel Anthony Hughes, 23, of Oxford Street, Bridlington, pleaded guilty to theft at Bridlington Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that the two men stole Christmas cards and a pig ornament containing around £4.50 in loose change from the windowsill of a Harrington Road bungalow at about 6.50pm on September 29.

The pair, who had both been drinking at the time of the offence, noticed that the bungalow window was slightly ajar and took the opportunity to lean into the room and grab the items.

They were disturbed by a neighbour and left the scene after breaking open the ornament and opening the cards to see if there was any money inside them.

The neighbour alerted the homeowner, who had been inside the bungalow in another room while the theft was taking place, and the police were called.

Defending the two men in court, Emma Appleton, said that it was an 'opportunist' crime and that neither of them had actually entered the bungalow.

She explained that Thompson had been out of work for the past six months.

He had previously worked as a security guard but was 'struggling' to find another job.

He had to pay maintenance for his four-year-old son out of his benefits allowance.

Hughes was also unemployed and had been for several years.

After ordering pre-sentence reports on both men from the probation service, presiding magistrate David Smith ordered that Thompson and Hughes should each pay costs of £85 and compensation to their victim of £27.25p each.

Both were also given a 12- month community order with Hughes told to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and Thompson 60 hours.

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