A MAN has been locked up for burgling and ransacking a church in a crime condemned by a former priest as 'sacrilege'.

Lee Pope, aged 20, right, broke into a room at St Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church in Plymstock and stole sacred items including rosary beads, Plymouth magistrates heard.

Presiding magistrate Peter Bailey, sending Pope to a young offenders' institution for 26 weeks, said: "This is an offence against society in that you broke into a church and ransacked it, stealing various items."

The court heard that a priest gave chase to Pope and another intruder as they ran from the church, dropping various stolen items and a bottle of vodka.

Magistrates were told that Pope, of no fixed address, had been released from prison less than two weeks before, having been jailed in October for theft.

Pope admitted burglary of the church in Quarry Park Road on February 20.

A second contested charge of threatening criminal damage to a window belonging to his mother on the same day was discharged.

Lucy Ray, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said that priest Father Wilczak left the church on that Saturday morning and was returning just before noon for a christening when he saw two men running away.

She said that the pair dropped various items from the church and a bottle of vodka. One of the men was seen to be carrying a key from the church, the court heard.

Miss Ray added that the pair escaped but Pope, who is from Plymstock, was recognised by another witness.

She said that when police arrested Pope later that day they found he had rosary beads which had been taken from the church.

Miss Ray added that the intruders had used a fire extinguisher to break open the repository.

She said that they had been through a cabinet containing the Blessed Sacrament – the consecrated wafers used for Communion – and the room was left in 'a mess'. The damage cost nearly £300 to repair.

Stephen Walker, for Pope, said that he had alcohol and drugs issues and was on a prescription for methadone, a heroin substitute.

He added that Pope had met another man the night before the break-in and stayed up all night drinking.

Mr Walker said: "After that he began to lose control."

Father Terence Fleming, former priest of St Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church, spoke on behalf of current priest Father Wilczak shortly after the burglary.

He said then: "It's a sacrilege to do something like that to holy objects."

Speaking after Pope was locked up, Father Terry said: "I hope he has a chance to see where he has gone wrong and to mend his ways and be a better citizen. We hope he learns from this incident."

"We were all a bit shocked and taken aback at the time but the congregation has taken this in its stride. These are the times that we are living in.

"We have forgiven him; we cannot do anything else."

He added that the door and other damage to the church had been repaired and security had been improved.

Father Terry said that parishioners had been given keys to a locked side door so they could still use the church at all times for private prayer.

Det Sgt Mark Sloman, who investigated the burglary, said: "This is a despicable crime. Pope showed a complete disregard for the community and church-goers alike.

"Criminals may view churches as easy targets; this shows that the community at large think differently. The custodial sentence of six months shows how severe this crime is."