A HOLIDAYMAKER who broke into a lodge at Oakdene Forest Park in St Leonards was so drunk his victim made him a coffee in a bid to sober him up.

Lorcan Townshend, the director of a Bath-based roofing and guttering company, had been on a trip to Dorset with his family when he committed the “bizarre” offence in the very early hours of April 14.

The victim, Danielle Cobb, was staying in a lodge at the same park with a four female friends. The group had stayed up until around 2am drinking Prosecco in their hot tub.

At 5.45am, Ms Cobb's friend Sarah Whitehouse was awoken by the sound of the patio door opening. Initially, she believed from the silhouette’s hairstyle that the person who had just walked in was one of her friends.

However, she then realised it was in fact a “large male”, which “shocked and confused her”, a court heard on Friday.

Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting Townshend’s sentencing hearing, said: “It appeared he was starting to get undressed.

“She was rather concerned. She got up and managed to usher him into the living room.

“He appeared very drunk – he was staggering and his speech was slurred.”

The noise awoke the others in the lodge. They attempted to get Townshend to leave, but he insisted on going via the patio, and they became concerned he would fall in the hot tub and drown.

"They tried to keep him calm and sit him down," Mr Ellacott said.

"They made him a cup of coffee and contacted the site manager."

Townshend, 30, was later found to have Ms Cobb's purse, which contained some £225 in cash, on him. In police interview, he said he didn't believe he would have taken the money, but later accepted he may have taken it and then forgotten.

He admitted a single charge of burglary.

In mitigation, barrister John Dyer said the defendant has an alcohol problem and is seeking support.

"Shortly before the offence, he was photographing hot tubs, and that's why he was at this particular lodge," Mr Dyer said.

Judge Douglas Field said the incident was a "bizarre tale".

"You were with your family in a different part of this caravan park," he told Townshend.

"You became extremely drunk. It's your drunkenness that lead to this offence being committed."

Townshend, who wept throughout the hearing, was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a three-month curfew and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Judge Field said: "I am sure this will be an experience that will be with you for many years.

"You have learned your lesson."