AN East Lancs man working away burst into a stranger’s bedroom thinking it was his hotel room.

Blackburn magistrates heard Shaun Craig immediately realised his mistake when he saw the other man in bed and left immediately.

Craig, 33, of Todmorden Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to using violence to secure entry to a room at the Best Western Hotel, Purfleet, criminal damage to a door casing and criminal damage to a glass door.

He also pleaded guilty to theft of wine worth £25 from Rossendale Road Service station and making off without payment from the same garage. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Glenn Anderton, prosecuting, said the man staying in room 208 at the Best Western was described as a church officer.

He had heard a lot of noise outside his room and someone had been banging on it.

“The person, who was the defendant, returned later and kicked the door so hard it flew open and the door frame broke,” said Mr Anderton.

“The aggrieved was in bed and when the defendant saw him he ran away.”

Mr Anderton said police arrived shortly after and when they confronted Craig he became very aggressive and kicked a glass door causing damage.

He later told police he couldn’t remember much about the incident because he had had a drink and had taken cocaine.

Trevor Grice, defending, said at the time his client had been desperately seeking work and was offered three days employment in Hertfordshire.

“The room he was staying in was three doors away from the complainant’s room,” said Mr Grice.

“There was continual noise coming from the beer garden and he had challenged people who were making noise on the corridor outside his room. He was beaten for his trouble.”

Mr Grice said Craig had left his key card in his room and in a state of confusion thought the room where the complainant was staying was his room.

“In his mind he was trying to get into his room,” said Mr Grice. “When the door opened he saw the other man in his bed and immediately left.”

Craig went to reception to get a key card for his room and on the way back was detained by police.

“He kicked out at the door out of frustration,” said Mr Grice.

He said all the damage had been paid for by the defendant’s employer who took it out of his wages.

“He actually (saw) nothing for his labours,” said Mr Grice.