A thief who woke up to find animals running around his flat has been forced to pay compensation to his victim as part of a larger sentence.

As previously reported by the Packet, Merlin Quinnan, aged 21, of Fore Street, Redruth, admitted the theft when he appeared before Truro magistrates last month. Yesterday he was back in court to be sentenced.

The magistrates heard that when victim Deborah Goodman found her rabbit and guinea pig had gone missing from her garden she put a message on Facebook, and discovered that someone had sold her rabbit for £10.

Police officers traced Quinnan to his home, where he told them he had woken up the morning after a drinking session to find the animals running round his room, without knowing why.

Before the court Merlin Quinnan, pleaded guilty to stealing the animals, together with charges of causing criminal damage to a car and a motorcycle, a shop window, and stealing a bicycle.

Paul Gallagher, his solicitor, said Quinnan had made a couple of suicide attempts and was clearly a troubled young man resorting to alcohol.

He was given a community order for a year, under probation supervision, and told to take part in an alcohol treatment programme. He had to pay £210 compensation, including £10 to Ms Goodman, and £60 victim surcharge, and was also given a drink banning order for six months.