Daniel Cutts, 21, was caught red-handed by police officers in friend James Heaton's parents' garage on Yew Tree Drive, Woodlesford.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Cutts, of The Avenue, Roundhay, and Heaton, 20, met while working at Halfords and hatched a plot, led by Cutts, to burgle Moortown Rugby Club.

Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said the club's alarm system was disabled and phone wires cut and a cellar forced before the pair escaped with a small safe along with cigarettes and booze during the robbery in the early hours.

Cutts and Heaton kept in touch by a walkie-talkie during the raid.
When police were alerted by neighbours on Yew Tree Drive, Cutts and Heaton were arrested and both their homes searched. Police found home-made guns – improvised pneumatic weapons designed to fire missiles – were found at both men's homes.

Philip Morris for Cutts said he had made the weapons entirely from his imagination and was a "man of a bygone age". Mr Morris said Cutts made the weapons, which were "spud guns" with no sinister intention.

Stephen Welford for Heaton, of Bywater Court, Haigh Moor Way, said it was Cutts who instigated the burglary. Judge Jennifer Kershaw said: "These offences were committed through folly rather than criminality."

Both men were handed 12 month jail sentences suspended for two years and given nine month supervision orders. Each must pay Moortown Rugby Club £1,000 compensation and do 100 hours community work.

Both had pleaded guilty to burglary in the early hours of April 29, 2007 and possessing a weapon without a firearm certificate.