Toby Ryan, aged 22, told police he had been paid £30 to keep watch while £320 worth of drugs including methadone, morphine and diazepam were stolen from Risedale Veterinary Surgery.

A safe was also broken into and cash taken during the raid on on August 29 last year, St Albans Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Rebecca Smith said Ryan was also involved in a break-in at the Inn on the Green pub in Harpenden on the same night in which two fruit machines were forced open and £250 cash stolen.

Ryan was linked to the scene through his DNA, which was found on a cigarette lighter.

He was arrested and told the police he had been paid £30 to act as a lookout.

Ryan of Abingdon Court in Woking, Surrey, appeared for sentence having admitted two counts of burglary. He had four previous convictions for seven offences. (Thursday, January 21)

Defence barrister Katherine Spears said Ryan accepted he had been 'extremely stupid'.

Judge Marie Catterson passed a 12-month community order with 12 months' supervision.

There is a condition he must attend an alcohol intervention programme in Surrey.

He must also pay £250 compensation to the pub and £1,805 compensation to the vets, along with £60 prosecution costs.