A burglar who stole a playgroup's goldfish and gave it to his sister's children has escaped a jail sentence.

Anthony Baugh took the fish in a plastic carrier bag then knocked door to door on his way home asking for water to top it up.

Baugh, 21, was caught after his DNA was found at Easington Playgroup, at Harrier School, Bloxham Road, Banbury.

Banbury magistrates sentenced him to four months jail, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work, placed on a 12 month supervision order, and told to sign up to the Smart Program, a substance misuse scheme.

Baugh, who has one child and another about to be born, was also put on a four-month curfew banning him from leaving his home between 8pm and 6am and ordered to pay £250 compensation to the playgroup.

Earlier the court heard Baugh, of Sinclair Avenue, Banbury, was drunk when he used a scaffold pole to break in to the playgroup. He stole electrical goods, cash and the fish. Later he sold a digital camera to his sister, who had no idea it was stolen, and gave the fish to her children.

The court heard Baugh had expressed remorse for what he had done and was disappointed in himself.