A FORMER deputy manager of Minehead newsagency McColls has been given a suspended prison sentence for his part in an "ill-conceived" burglary in which over £19,000 was stolen from the safe.

Shaun Vickery, 23, of Minehead, and a 17-year-old youth who cannot be named for legal reasons, smashed their way through a rear door of the newsagency in the early hours of April 2.

Taunton Crown Court was told the pair then "got rid of" CCTV cameras.

Harry Ahuja, prosecuting, said the youth, who was wearing a balaclava, gained access to the safe and together the pair took £19,241.33.

The money was then dumped and picked up by a third defendant, Scott Bourton, 37, of Minehead.

Mr Ahuja said the trio had agreed to split the money three ways.

The court was told police investigating the burglary became suspicious of Vickery and the youth ultimately confessed.

Officers went to Bourton's address and recovered £17,121.

Both Vickery and Bourton admitted the charges against them.

Vickery was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months supervision and 200 hours unpaid work.

Bourton was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months supervision and 150 hours supervision in view of previous offences.

They were also each ordered to pay £1,260.15 in compensation and a £100 victim surcharge.

Lawrence Wilcox, representing Vickery, said his client had lost his job, his standing in the community and his good character.

He had also lost his self respect and brought shame to his family.

Mr Wilcox said the crime had been "ill-conceived and absurdly executed".

Terry Holder, for Bourton, said his client was impecunious, suffering from depression and remorseful.

Judge David Ticehurst said Vickery had been in a position of trust and had been respected and thought well-of.

"No doubt you worked hard to achieve all this and in one stupid incident you have lost all of it," he said.

He described Vickery as the "brains" of the burglary but said he "used that word advisedly".

Judge Ticehurst was told Vickery had inherited £4,000 from his late grandfather after the burglary and would be able to use some of it to pay the compensation and victim surcharge costs.

"If your granddad knew what his hard-earned money had gone on, he would be devastated. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself," the judge said.

He said Bourton had taken a lesser role in the raid and had seen the "petty and squalid little burglary" as an easy way to make some money.