A thief who tried to steal a charity jar from a busy pub burst into tears when he was detained by angry drinkers, a court heard.

Dean Randle and an accomplice burst into the King Richard III pub in Highcross Street, Leicester, and snatched the jar, which contained between £800 and £1,000, from the bar.

But when one of the men tried to pass it to the other it fell to the floor and shattered, spilling pound coins everywhere.

The pair, who were wearing balaclavas, were grabbed by customers – but Randle's accomplice managed to escape in a waiting car.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Randle, a father-of-one, then began crying and begged to be let go, claiming he'd been forced into the raid to pay off debts.

The hearing was told Randle had got involved with loan sharks and had borrowed money he had no hope of repaying in order to buy Christmas presents.

The 26-year-old, who has 19 previous convictions for offences including theft and dishonesty, was initially charged with robbery

But a guilty plea to the lesser charge of theft was accepted by prosecutors on the day he was due to stand trial.

Mark Bishop, prosecuting, said Randle had been in the pub on December 15 last year with a woman, but was refused service because they had children with them.

He returned several hours later – this time in search of more than a drink.

Mr Bishop told the court: "A barmaid saw two people enter wearing balaclavas.

"She initially thought nothing of it, but they then began to run towards the bar.

"She was pushed in the stomach, while the other man stood at the end of the bar.

"She described herself as screaming and being scared and she saw one of the men take the large charity jar.

"He tried to pass it to the other, but it fell to the floor and cracked open.

"The pub was busy and the two were detained. One got away, but the other did not.

"He pleaded to be released and said he had been forced into it as he owed money. However the landlady, who recognised him from earlier that day, called the police."

Jonathon Eley, defending, said Randle committed the offence while "under pressure".

He said: "He knows he will not enlist any sympathy for this offence. In fact, the opposite will be the case.

"He has been around the system but has had time to reflect, while serving two months on remand in prison, and realises that carrying on like this is no life at all.

"He assures me he has turned a corner."

Judge Howard Morrison QC told Randle, of Oban Street, Leicester, he would have been facing a custodial sentence had he not already served time in jail.

He added: "This was a borderline robbery but I have to sentence you for theft, which of course carries a significantly lower range of penalties. There was no loss to the charity as the money was recovered."

Randle was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.