A career burglar and his partner in crime were caught in a hotel after breaking in and ransacking an office.
Anthony and Ryan McDonald were busted after grabbing wine and a cashbox from Hotel Indigo.
Both men have dozens of previous convictions - but only one went to jail after a tearful display by his co-accused, a full-time carer.
READ MORE: Bride fears dream Thornton Manor wedding could be 'snatched away'
The pair were caught in the act after breaking into the Liverpool city centre hotel last year.
Bernice Campbell, prosecuting, said they were found behind the bar of the Chapel Street hotel by members of the night staff at around 1.30am on November 16.
Liverpool Crown Court was told they were challenged, leading to a scuffle in which Anthony suffered a head injury. Ryan was found with a rucksack that had the hotel’s cash float, and bottles of stolen wine and gin inside.
Anthony, 40, had 33 previous convictions for 58 offences - including 29 linked to theft and dishonesty offences - and several for burglary.
Daniel Bramhall, defending, said the dad-of-three “is remorseful, he does want to put his ways behind him”.
Mr Bramhall added: “Mr McDonald tells me he does, or did, have a longstanding issue with drugs. He has been addicted to crack cocaine and has battled with that for the past five years. The last time he had taken crack cocaine was when this incident took place and since then he has been free from drugs.”
The court heard Anthony, of no fixed address, suffered panic attacks, anxiety and depression and believes he has post traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the death of a friend when he was 17.
Ryan, of Sylvester Street in Vauxhall, had 24 previous convictions for 38 offences.
It was said Anthony had placed the stolen items in the rucksack he was carrying when the pair were caught. The relationship between the pair was not detailed during the case.
When questioned by police, Ryan admitted he had taken cocaine, drunk alcohol and gone “thieving”.
Charles Lander, defending, said the 40-year-old was a full-time carer for a brother who had a spinal condition and, noting the tears Ryan was crying in the dock, said his client was “crying for his brother and what could happen to him if the defendant was to lose his liberty”.
Anthony admitted burglary and possession of cannabis - relating to spliffs found on him - and Ryan pleaded guilty to burglary.
Judge Louise Brandon sentenced Anthony, who appeared in court via a video link from HMP Altcourse, to two years in jail.
After hearing that Ryan, who unlike Anthony had no previous convictions for burglary, was assessed as posing a low risk of re-offending if his alcohol issues could be addressed, the judge gave him a 20 month sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to undergo alcohol rehabilitation treatment.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
