Burgular rings mum during destructive celebration of his child's impending birth

Having thrown a paving stone through a window at Kelbrook Service Station in Barnoldswick, ex-tarmacer, Michael Cooper (27), was apprehended after calling his mother to pick him up him after he cut his hand, resulting in her car being captured on CCTV.

Acting with an accomplice, Cooper had been enjoying a boozy night with friends in celebration of the upcoming birth of his child before he triggered the alarm at the station when he threw the paving stone through the window and onto the till.

The pair - of whom Cooper is about to start receiving employment support allowance due to injuries suffered last September - also struck down the road in Foulridge, where they forced a padlock to get into a store full of alcohol at Cafe Cargo, Burnley magistrates were told.

The hearing was told cannabis-user Cooper, who has a criminal record going back to 2006, had consumed a cocktail of vodka and Valium after being "overcome with excitement". Cooper, who lives with his mum, is now the father of a two-week-old tot.

The defendant, of Derby Street, Colne, admitted to attempted burglary and burglary and was given a community order with 100 hours unpaid work and must also pay £85 in costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Bench chairman, Mr Paul Wright, told the defendant what he had done was "perhaps not the normal reaction to the birth of a baby," before admitting that it was "rather sweet" that Cooper had called his mum when he had got hurt.

Prosecutor, Miss Parveen Akhtar, said two men forced open the roller shutters at the garage at 12.51 am and a paving slab was thrown through the window before two men were seen on CCTV footage breaking into a store shed at Cafe Cargo.

Defending, Mr Sephton Lee, said Cooper had "imbibed far too much alcohol," and one of his friends gave him some tablets, which he believed were Valium.

The solicitor continued: "His mother was concerned to learn her son had cut his hand. There was some CCTV which caught the vehicle registration number and he was arrested later. He has expressed remorse."

A probation officer who interviewed Cooper told the court he had committed the offences just before his baby was born, saying: "He was overcome with excitement and he wanted to celebrate pre-birth.

"He did express his embarrassment for his behaviour and accepted it wasn't appropriate" the probation officer added. "He had no intention on the night to go out and do what he did. He totally regrets his actions."