Two Penygroes men who burgled the village rugby club after a night out, stealing £340 in cash and causing more than £3,000 worth of damage, have said they are too ashamed to show their faces in the village.

Kevin Sydney Morgan, of 179 Waterloo Road, and 24-year-old Stephen Wyn Redfearn, of 1 Garnfoel, admitted breaking in to the club where they were both regulars during the early hours of August 9.

Llanelli court was told how the pair had spent the evening drinking at Penygroes RFC before heading to Ammanford at midnight.

They returned to 21-year-old Morgan's house at 2am and fell asleep, but woke again at 2.45am and decided to raid the club.

Morgan, who had taken amphetamine, smashed a rear window with his elbow and the two climbed inside and dragged two gaming machines into the pool room before kicking open the cash boxes to get at the money inside.

In interview, Morgan told police that the pair had panicked as they made their escape through the village graveyard and threw away the cash.

Redfearn however told officers that they had returned to Morgan's house and shared out the stolen £340.

A cleaner alerted club officials of the break-in next morning and when CCTV was viewed Morgan and Redfearn were easily identified.

They were arrested next day and immediately admitted their guilt.

Asked why he broken into the club, Morgan replied: "Fool" and "stupid".

Redfearn said he had “no idea” why they had gone to the club.

Kate Williams, for Redfearn, said: “Quite why he acted in this way that night he does not know.

“It seems to have been a combination of youth, drink and showing off in front of his friend.”

Steve Lloyd, representing Morgan, said: “This was a very foolish act committed after far too much alcohol.”

Probation officer Tim Jenkins, who interviewed both men, said of Morgan: “He is devastated to be in this situation and is deeply embarrassed by his actions.

“He is well known at the club but now feels that whatever trust existed between himself and those at the club has been breached to a point beyond repair.

“He feels he can no longer hold his head up in the village because he is so ashamed of what he did.

“He is disgusted at himself.

“This has made him think about what he needs to do with his life and he has not drunk or taken drugs since.”

Mr Jenkins said Redfearn could recall little of the night itself, but was adamant he had not taken any of the drugs.

“He is deeply ashamed,” said Mr Jenkins.

“He was a member of the club, but that relationship has now been destroyed and he has not been back since.”

Redfearn said he felt that whatever degree of trust people had previously had in him was now “vaporised”.

“They both feel that they have given their families a bad name thanks to their actions,” Mr Jenkins said.

Both men, who are employed at the same Ammanford firm, admitted burglary.

Magistrates told the pair they were “spiralling down a particular route”.

“We know where that is going to end up unless you do something about it,” the pair were told.

“We take no pleasure in depriving people of their liberty, but unless you take heed then that is where you are going to end up.”

Redfearn was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order.

Morgan, who was subject to a conditional discharge in relation to an earlier public order offence at the time of the break-in, was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

They were each ordered to pay £600 in compensation to cover the excess of the club’s insurance policy along with £85 court costs, a £180 court charge and a £60 victim surcharge.

“You both recognise the damage you have done to your reputations and the reputations of your families,” magistrates told them.

Redfearn said he intended to make a formal apology to club officials.