[bbfan1991]

A drunk man broke into a police station in Altrincham at 5am and dressed up as an officer before stealing a bowl of Weetabix.

Michael Allan, 25, was spotted at the Barrington Road station when a real policeman saw a piece of glass in his hand and noticed that he had cuts to his face, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Allan was wearing a police jacket, cap and trousers and had also taken two mobile phones and some body armour from the locker room. It was later discovered that Allan also ate a bowl of breakfast cereal while in the station.

On being caught, Allan asked the officer for help and was taken to hospital to treat his self-inflicted wounds.

Judge Bernard Lever sentenced Allan to 50 hours unpaid community service and 12 months supervision by the probation service.

"This is not outlandish or wicked criminal behaviour on your part, but a cry for help," Judge Lever said. "In my opinion you need help and support, not punishment at this juncture."

When interviewed by police, Allan confirmed that he had been drinking heavily and remembered little of his actions. He also admitted to having damaged a business window at Oak House on the same road.

He received no separate sentence after earlier pleading guilty at Magistrates' Court to possession of 12 Class C steroid tablets.