A burglar who smashed his way into a garden centre was caught on CCTV helping himself to a slice of cake and a bottle of Fanta, a court heard.

Nicholas McRae, 63, of no fixed address, struck at Coton Orchard Garden Centre, in Cambridge, in the early hours of 23 April.

Cambridge Crown Court heard that McRae used a sledgehammer (pictured), later recovered at the scene, to break a ground floor window, then cut himself as he climbed through, leaving traces of blood behind.

He In the café area, where he was captured on CCTV, he forced open the till. Finding  no money there, he took a tips jar containing £2.50, a bottle of Fanta and a slice of cake.

McRae, who wore a hi-viz jacket, escaped back through the broken window.

Five days later he broke in again using a metal crowbar, to open the automatic doors and stole charity boxes. He was found by police hiding in woods nearby.

PC Dan Harper, who investigated, said: “McRae brazenly targeted the garden centre on two occasions, even helping himself to a slice of cake, bottle of fizzy drink and charity boxes. Unfortunately for him he made a series of mistakes which meant we were able to link him forensically to the crimes.”

Watch the CCTV footage here