WHEN Craig McDougall went to a residential home for the elderly on Christmas Day he did not go to spread Christmas cheer.

Instead he smashed his way in through an office window and was caught by an assistant rifling through drawers.

When the assistant said she would call security he became aggressive and she decided to let him out through the fire escape to avoid trouble.

McDougall, aged 19, of Thorp Avenue, Radcliffe, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence for burglary. The court heard that it happened on Christmas Day in 1998 when McDougall had just turned 17.

Prosecutor Andrew Marrs said the assistant, Christine Hesketh, was givng drugs to the elderly residents.

Blood

When she went to the office she saw McDougall rifling through the desk drawers. At first he just sat there, but when she said she would call security he became aggressive.

When she returned she noticed blood near the window through which McDougall had gained entry and found that £50 was missing. It took some time before police matched the blood left at the scene with McDougall through a DNA database.

The court heard that McDougall had a criminal record including offences of grievous bodily harm, theft and disorderly behaviour.

Benjamin Myers, defending, said that the offence had been committed nearly three years ago and since then McDougall had got his life in order.

Judge William Morris said the case was unusual in that it was almost three years ago and he appeared to have reformed himself.

He ordered McDougall to complete a 100 hour Community Punishment Order alongside a Community Rehabilitation Order. He was also ordered to pay £125 costs.