Thief fined after cavern break–in

Daniel Harrison, 22, was the only person caught after the break–in at the premises near Treak Cliff Cavern. His fingerprints were found on a beer can left on the roof, Derby Crown Court heard.

Items were stolen from the cafe and office, with some left outside, and more than £3,000 of damage was caused.

A three–month curfew and 150 hours’ unpaid work was imposed on Harrison, of Hall Street, Offerton, after he admitted committing burglary.

Judge John Burgess said: “This was some jaunt when a group of lads went to the Peak District and it went disastrously wrong. How would you like it if your family business was trashed like this?

“This was a boys’ camping trip which went wrong.”

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, said the burglar alarm was set off, a roof panel had been forced open and the front door was unlocked.

She added the shop door had been forced open, the office door was smashed and the office was ransacked and the most expensive damage was to the shop sign for £2,000.

Rebecca Tanner, mitigating, said Harrison is hard-working. She said he knows he could have faced jail after the incident on August 10, 2012.