A man broke into a restaurant in Weymouth twice in one night, stealing 41 bottles of alcohol and £200 in cash.

Thomas Ford, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary when he appeared at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, April 11.

The charge refers to an incident on September 30, 2023, when Ford broke into the Gurkha Bar and Buffet Restaurant at the Swannery.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, told the court that Ford, of Mount Pleasant Avenue South, had got in to the premises by “ramming beer barrels into the window until it smashed”.

The burglary was caught on a CCTV system at the restaurant.

Mrs Valera said: “He went straight to the tills and took £200 immediately, he then moved to the bar area and took a number of bottles of alcohol.

“He then got on his bike and rode away.”

Ford then returned to the restaurant two hours later with a large bag.

Mrs Valera said: “He re-entered and filled his bag with a number of bottles, 41 bottles to the value of £600."

She added: “He was identified through forensics.

“This was a very serious offence; he entered the building twice and he was under the influence of drugs.”

Ford is currently on licence from prison for a separate burglary after being convicted on August 25 2023.

The court heard from the probation service that Ford had repeatedly failed to attend appointments with a probation officer.

The defendant had also admitted to a heroin relapse.

Patricia Sheehan, mitigating, said: “This offence pre-dates the custodial sentence from Bournemouth Crown Court.

“He said he has had trouble making the appointments with probation and he has been told that it is not acceptable.

“He is on curfew, he has stable accommodation living at home.

“He is a chronic addict and his addiction to heroin overlays his behaviour."

The case was adjourned for sentencing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, May 10.

Ford was released on conditional bail with conditions including being under a curfew and to not enter the Gurkha restaurant.