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A burglar returned cash to a football academy where he had stolen from a children’s fundraising cup.

Darren Green, 30, said he went to Top Corner Sports, owned and managed by former Boro player Jamie Pollock, to see his nephew play football but seized his chance to steal in a “moment of madness”.

CCTV showed him cycling up to the Middlesbrough building when it was accessible to the public for a football tournament on the evening of November 11.

He went into the closed bar area and stole a black cash box and a cup full of money for children’s fundraising, Teesside magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Lynne Dalton said Green was challenged by a suspicious witness and said he worked at a nearby office.

He later confessed what he had done to his boss and to police.

He paid back £150 to the football academy, which is home to five children’s football teams.

Green, of Wordsworth Road, Teesville, Middlesbrough, admitted the burglary, the 41st offence on his record and his first since 2011.

Dominic Tate, defending, said: “Clearly he’s made a massive mistake. He recognises the error of his ways. He realised that almost immediately.

“He went back later that night to try and rectify things.

“However it was the following day he then returned and repaid the money, with additional money also.

“He understands that he shouldn’t have done this. Essentially it was a moment of madness.

“His original intention was to see his nephew play football. He saw the cash and unfortunately took the incorrect decision to take that money.”

Mr Tate said Green was currently working as an Avon rep and volunteering for a local garage, and his pregnant girlfriend sat in the public gallery.

“He does have a record but it has been a significant amount of time since he’s troubled the courts,” added Mr Tate.

“He has made positive steps in turning his life around.

“He’s made a monumental error of judgment. He’s shown extreme remorse.”

Robert Birch, chairing a bench of three magistrates, told Green: “We do note that you are remorseful, that you made an early guilty plea and the money was repaid.

“On the other hand Top Corner Sports is a community asset and therefore this is a crime against the community really, and we do have to take that into consideration.”

Green was given a one-year community order with supervision and 60 hours’ unpaid work, and ordered to pay £100 costs.

No one was available for comment from Top Corner Sports.