A disgruntled chef claims he broke into his former employer’s pub because he was owed wages - before causing almost £10,000 of damage in a pharmacy raid.

Jayden Holman burgled the Pearson’s Arms in Whitstable, before ransacking Cheadles Chemist on the High Street, leaving a trail of destruction.

Holman, of no fixed address but from the Whitstable area, was drunk when he smashed his way into the pub in Horsebridge Road during the early hours of October 13.

The 20-year-old climbed up a drainpipe and broke windows to get inside, before stealing two bottles of booze from the bar and leaving fridges open, ruining the food inside.

A cup containing small change was also reported missing.

Holman told a probation officer he carried out the burglary because he was owed wages, although no evidence was presented to the court.

The officer said: “He had been working long hours and worked for the pub.

“He told me he was owed money and he’d been working up to 93 hours a week.

“He’d had a fallout with one of his employers and they owed him money. He had not been paid and that’s why he did the burglary - he had not been paid properly.

“He has a job ready at the Monument pub on his release.”

A few days after the pub break-in, Holman was arrested after trying to steal a bike from outside McDonald’s in St George’s St, Canterbury, using a hammer to free it from its locking chain.

Holman was later charged with the burglary at the pub, attempted theft of the bike and going equipped for theft in relation to the hammer.

However, while on bail in November, Holman broke into the Cheadles Chemist in Whitstable.

"The break in had a massive financial impact on the business..."

As he entered the building, he damaged computers and then rifled through the building looking for things to steal.

He left a fridge full of medication open and stole two boxes of breast cancer drugs from inside.

Police were called after alarms inside the building went off and Holman was found still inside in a drunken state.

He started to abuse officers and even shouted a woman walking past.

Holman admitted both burglaries when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates were told he had also pleaded guilty to the other offences at an earlier hearing.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, told the court the damage to the pharmacy totalled £9,523, mainly because Holman had left a fridge full of medication open which had to be thrown away.

Ms Farbrace said: “The break in had a massive financial impact on the business and customers couldn’t get their meds and the nearby doctor’s surgery couldn’t issue prescriptions to the pharmacy.”

She told magistrates the pub also suffered a financial loss as damage cost £970 to repair. Food left in open fridges also had to be thrown away at a cost of £523.94.

The court heard both businesses were able to claim on their insurance for the damage, but the chemist had to pay £500 excess and the pub £1,000.

The bench was told Holman had no previous convictions apart from a caution he had been given earlier this year, and that he had carried out the spate of criminal activity while suffering mental health issues and binge drinking.

Magistrates jailed Holman for 12 months for both burglaries, but suspended the term for 12 months.

He must also complete a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement and 25 rehabilitation sessions with probation.

Holman was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the chemist and £1,000 to the pub.

He was also fined £50 for going equipped for theft and £50 for the attempted theft of the bike.