A THIEVING dad-to-be targeted a primary school, smashed his way in and helped himself to cash saved by children for trips out, a court heard.

Cocaine-taker Cy Holt, 22, left a trail of destruction at Casterton Primary School, Burnley, as he also kicked through interior doors in his hunt for money and things to steal, in the middle of the night.

The career burglar lived near the Thames Avenue premises and picked it because he thought he could make a quick and easy profit.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Holt, who also stole a laptop, returned triumphant to his home in the early hours and boasted to his girlfriend he had just raided a primary school and netted £1,000.

Holt, whose actions may have meant pupils missing out on a trip, is due to become a father for the first time in about five months, but will not be present at the birth after a judge locked him up for 14 months.

He will serve about half that time. Holt took umbrage with the fact the jail term means he will be behind bars instead of with his partner and was led from the dock complaining.

The defendant, who has moved to Mount Street, Fleetwood, since the attack on the school, had admitted burglary and possessing cocaine and had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

Sarah Johnson, prosecuting, said that in the early hours of March 12 the school alarm was activated at about 3.30am.

A piece of wood-panelling had been forced through into the kitchen area and damage was also caused a number of doors, which were kicked open.

Miss Johnson said Holt took a laptop and money boxes that contained brown envelopes of cash which were deposits made by the pupils for school outings. The school estimated about £500 had been taken.

The prosecutor said CCTV from nearby Belvedere Sports and Social Club caught a man depositing empty cash-boxes and envelopes outside the premises. The footage was examined and Holt was identified.

Miss Johnson said police went to the defendant’s new address and spoke to a female who confirmed that in the early hours of March 12 Holt had returned and told her he had the broken into a school. He was arrested on April 23 and had cocaine on him. Holt made no comment when interviewed. He had 57 offences on his record, many of them for burglary.

Hugh McKee, defending, said the comment to his girlfriend about burgling the school was bravado.

Sentencing, Recorder Philip Curran said Holt had a ‘dreadful record for burglary’.

Recorder Curran had read a letter from the defendant, in which he was said to have expressed remorse for what he did and stated it was very stupid.