Two men have admitted being part of a gang which stole cash from a Maidstone pub by drilling into a fruit machine.

Mark Raven, 39, and Michael Linnane, 33, were part of a group which went into the Malta Inn in Lock Lane on June 6 and stole £460.

The scam involved the men crowding around the machine as if they were playing it while one bent down and drilled into it to get to the cash.

But they were seen by staff who called the police, and when officers arrived they found a bag containing a drill.

A search of the men’s car revealed a further £4,000 in pound coins.

Both Raven and Linnane pleaded guilty to three charges of theft, possession of criminal property and going equipped to steal at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

But it was accepted the men were not the main players in the operation.

Canel Halil, defending, said Linnane had recently lost his job and his partner had given birth to twins just nine days before his arrest.

Mr Halil said: “His motivation that day was to provide for his family. He found it extremely difficult to cope with the loss of his job when his family were relying on him financially and he had an additional two young mouths to feed. He is deeply remorseful and embarrassed by his actions.”

But Mr Halil said Raven was “no stranger to the courts” but on this occasion he had been no more than a lookout.

The court heard he was the victim of an attempted murder when he was 19 and had since turned to alcohol.

Linnane was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 120 hours of unpaid work while Raven received an 18-month community order including 70 days of a rehabilitation programme.

Both men, from Essex, must pay £50 court costs, £130 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and a £180 court charge.