North Devon Magistrates Court, Barnstaple

Paul Crack was arrested after being caught red handed by black belt hotel owner Raynor Wells.

A MAN who broke into an Ilfracombe hotel and was discovered wearing a balaclava and clutching a screwdriver has been given a community order.

Paul Crack, 41, of Flat 1, 140 High Street, Ilfracombe, was caught red handed trespassing in the Grosvenor Hotel on January 22.

On Friday he was sentenced at North Devon Magistrates’ Court to comply with a drug rehabilitation requirement with supervision for 12 months.

Last week the Gazette reported how Crack was caught and restrained by karate black belt hotel owner Raynor Wells.

Mr Wells discovered Crack stood in the hotel, and ended up rugby tackling him when he tried to run out of the building.

Tony Dart, defending, told the court at a previous hearing Crack believed he had been ‘set up’ by other two people who had asked him to be a lookout then fled the scene.

As well as complying with the drug rehabilitation order, Crack was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.