HAPLESS burglars made a failed "great escape" in a golf buggy after crashing their getaway car.

David Francis, 21, Alan Tams, 20, and Michael Bellerby, 23, had made off with £140 worth of alcoholic drinks from an off-licence in Rothbury, Northumberland, in a Vauxhall Cavalier.

But when the car crashed, the burglars took a golf buggy to make their 25-mile trip back to Tyneside.

They were caught when stunned residents at Widdrington, Northumberland, spotted them making their 10mph getaway through their village.

Police were called, forcing them to abandon the electric cart. They were found inside a play pipe at a children's playground.

Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "Neighbours in the Widdrington area, upon hearing strange noises, looked out of their window to see a golf buggy being driven down the road.

"That golf buggy contained these three defendants. It had been stolen from Burgham Park golf club."

Francis, of Stocksfield Avenue, Newcastle, Tams, of Hartford Bridge, Bedlington, and Bellerby, of Merton Road, Newcastle, all admitted burglary of the shop.

Francis and Bellerby also admitted taking the golf buggy without consent and Tams admitted allowing himself to be carried.

Glen Gatland, mitigating, told the court how the trio had been on a camping trip when they decided to raid the off-licence because they ran out of drink.

Mr Gatland said: "It was a great escape in a golf buggy."

Tams and Francis were sentenced to nine months' imprisonment suspended for two years with 18 months' supervision and 100 hours unpaid community work. Bellerby, who is serving seven years for burglary, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, to run concurrently.