TRAVELLERS who invaded a historic brewery told bosses they would leave within the hour if £20,000 was handed over.

Ringleader Thomas Ward, 43, told brewery bosses: “£20,000 today or the place is ours.”

But when the money failed to appear, they trashed the offices, stripped out 4.5 tons of cable, and stole treasured brewing plates - causing more than £250,000 of damage.

Thwaites’ employees set up a crisis centre nearby and arranged a police escort to remove artwork, artefacts, memorabilia and computers - but when the travellers realised they would not be getting their £20,000, they broke into the tower and began to loot it.

Offices were ransacked and computers, cash, booze and personal effects were stolen.

The power was cut off and 1,700 pints of beer had to be destroyed through fear of contamination.

The full cost to Thwaites’ livelihood has yet to be calculated but following the the invasion, the firm was no longer able to brew at the site. The brewery has since moved to a new headquarters in Mellor Brook.

Preston Crown Court heard travellers started to arrive at Thwaites’ 211-year-old site in Penny Street, Blackburn, at around 9pm on Friday May 26.

One of the group used a chainsaw to cut through the padlock on the pedestrian gate at the side of the brewery and dozens of caravans drove onto the yard.

A panicked security guard called CEO Richard Bailey on his mobile and Mr Bailey went straight to the site, where he met with contractor Gregory Hartley.

But by the time Mr Bailey arrived, a man who identified himself as “Big John” had already issued his demand to Mr Hartley.

He told the men: “£20,000 today, or the place is ours”, the court heard.

Mr Bailey and Mr Hartley explained to Big John they would be unable to raise the money that night but agreed to have it available by noon the following day - on the condition no damage was caused to the brewery.

The men shook hands and Big John said he could have everyone off the site within the hour, once the money had changed hands.

At that stage, the only damage to the site was to the gate, the court was told.

Kim Obrusik, prosecuting, said: “The following day Richard Bailey arranges for a number of employees to attend at the site, along with a police escort.

“Police and staff attended at 2.15pm and took a number of items. At that point there has been no damage caused and nothing stolen - the only damage was to the gate.”

Thomas Ward, 43, has admitted blackmailing Mr Bailey, by demanding £20,000 with menaces.

He, John Ward, 33, and a 17-year-old who can not be identified for legal reasons, also admit conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to commit criminal damage at Thwaites’ Brewery over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Miss Obrusik said: “Very shortly after the police and employees left the site and those items were removed, the first trespass was undertaken.

“There is a clear arrangement between the males on the indictment to enter that building and steal items from within, and there is a clear arrangement between those males to cause damage.

“That arrangement was made when Thomas Ward forms the view he is not going to get the £20,000 he has demanded.”

The travellers left the site on Bank Holiday Monday, in a convoy escorted by police.

Thwaites’ staff and police did a walk round of the site and the true extent of the damage was discovered.

The three men will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Thursday November 22.

A fourth man, Patrick Ward, 32, denies conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to commit criminal damage and is on trial.

He admits he was in Blackburn and was seen on CCTV at Morrison’s and Gala Bingo over the bank holiday weekend.

But he denies he was at the Thwaites’ site and says he has been mistakenly identified on CCTV taken from Thwaites’.

(The trial continues.)