TWO burglars who wrecked a house when they ripped out copper pipes have been spared jail.

Wesley Smith and Sean Thompson were part of a gang who caused £11,000 damage to the house in Hayes Road, Clacton, between September 17 and 19 last year.

The house flooded and a ceiling collapsed when the hot water tank was yanked out, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Smith, 26, of Broadway, Jaywick, admitted burglary and Thompson, 24, of Cambridge Road, Clacton, admitted damaging a cupboard, stool and bathroom cabinet mirror.

Smith also admitted assaulting 67-year-old Anthony Judd in an unrelated incident on September 24 last year in the Grove, Clacton.

The court was told he punched Mr Judd in the face when he told Smith, who was drunk, to stop rocking a car.

Judge Christopher Ball imposed a community order with 18 months supervision and ordered him to attend an alcohol treatment programme and an aggression replacement training programme.

He gave Thompson, who has no previous convictions, an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £400 compensation and £100 costs.

Anna Perera, mitigating for Smith, said he was rejected by both parents when they split up last year and he was unable to cope on his own and began drinking.

John Caudle, mitigating for Thompson, said he was not there when the piping was removed.

He was of good character and worked as a barman at a holiday camp.

A 17-year-old boy, also charged with burglary, failed to attend court for sentence and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

A 15-year-old boy has already been dealt with by the youth court for burglary.