A MOMENT of madness and “extreme stupidity” led two brothers to burgle a department store on Christmas Day, a court heard.

Dennis Brown, 27, and brother Murdoch, 22, broke into the Quadrant store, in Rayne Road, Braintree, and took nearly £700 of perfume.

Dennis Brown, who used to live in Braintree, but now lives in Emberson Court, Chelmsford, and his brother, of Saunders Avenue, Braintree, were seen throwing something at the shop’s window. They were also seen kicking the window, then running off with another man.

Shortly afterwards, police caught the brothers in Bunyon Road. Forensic tests linked glass fragments on both defendants to the window and a display cabinet in the shop.

The perfume, said to be worth £688 was never found. Damage to the window and cabinet was estimated at £3,000.

Passing sentence, Recorder Gerard Pounder described the brothers’ antics as “street theatre” and a “clumsy burglary” carried out in front of witnesses.

The brothers admitted breaking in at about 5.30pm on December 25 last year.

Dennis Brown also admitted shoplifting aftershave worth £70 from Debenhams in Chelmsford on 22 August last year.

The court heard Dennis Brown had previously appear-ed in court 24 times, and had 48 convictions.

Murdoch had just one previous conviction, for criminal damage.

Dennis Brown was sentenced to a total of seven months, suspended for two years, plus supervision and drug rehabilitation orders.

The judge told him it was with “some hesitation” he was giving him a chance and not jailing him.

He told Murdoch Brown he was a promising young man who had succumbed to a moment of madness and extreme stupidity.

He was given a 12-month community order, with 120 hours unpaid work and told to pay £250 compensation to Quadrant.

Peter Barlex, appearing for Dennis Brown, said the brothers had spent Christmas Day at their mother’s house and drunk a lot before the raid.