A YOUNG drinker has apologised to cricket club bosses after breaking into their sponsors’ lounge and collapsing in an alcoholic stupor.

Luke Harden, 20, and a pal were so drunk after breaking into the Rawtenstall CC clubhouse that police were able to slip handcuffs on the pair while they were sleeping on the lounge floor, Rossendale Magistrates’ Court was told.

Harden, who was found wearing a cricket jumper, said sorry repeatedly to police after being detained over the August 31 break-in.

And he has since been to visit club chairman Brian Payne and offered to pay for the damage caused by their intrusion, the court heard.

Harden, of Hollins Lane, Accrington, admitted burglary and theft of two bottles of the alcopop blue WKD, along with two bags of crisps.

He was fined £180 with £50 costs and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge by magistrates.

Prosecutor Andrew Robinson said Mr Payne had arrived at the ground early that morning to discover that a changing room door was damaged.

Once he went inside to check to see if anything had been taken he saw Harden and another young man curled up on the floor with two bottles of alcopop and crisps strewn on the floor.

He alerted police and the pair were arrested.

Janet Sime, defending, said her client was so drunk that police managed to place handcuffs on both young men before they woke up and realised what had happened.

She told the court that they had been at a house party in the area and Harden had lost all his money, and his house keys, and so was unable to return home.

The pair had broken into the cricket ground looking for somewhere to sleep and had found two jumpers to keep out the cold, the court heard.

Awoken by police and told he was under arrest, Harden said he had little recollection of how he had come to be in the cricket club.

“This young man has learned a very important lesson about how much alcohol you can drink and how far you can go,” added Miss Sime.

She said that he had visited the cricket club and offered to pay for any damage he had caused.

Mr Payne had managed to see the funny side of the situation and agreed to accept compensation - half has been paid so far and the other half is due within a week, the court heard.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph earlier this week, Mr Payne said: “He was full of apologies and said he was not like that normally.

“He said he had had too much to drink and would like to pay for the damage. Ten out of ten for him doing that.”

The club has been hit by a couple of break-ins earlier in the season though that saw thieves escape with property worth thousands of pounds.