A BURGLAR has himself been burgled while waiting to be sentenced for a raid on a city centre pub.

Barman Matthew McAllister, 30, was convicted by a jury at Hull Crown Court of burgling the Charterhouse Pub in Sykes Street, city centre, with his friend Neil Farman, 40, who was a regular in the bar.

But McAllister was given a reduced sentence due to a derogatory text sent by a juror during his trial.

Judge Roger Thorn QC described the burglary carried out on the pub as "well planned" using inside knowledge of the bar.

The pair stole personal and sentimental items from the landlady's home on September 30 last year, which have not been recovered.

During their trial, one of the jurors had to be discharged after she received text messages from another juror in a different case, Danielle Robinson, falsely claiming McAllister was a paedophile.

Robinson, 19, of Crayford Close, Greatfield, was charged with perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Judge Thorn QC reduced the sentence he was going to pass on McAllister by three months because of the text message.

He has now been jailed for 15 months.

In his defence, the court heard McAllister's home in Sykes Street was burgled while he was in custody awaiting sentence.

His friend Farman has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment due to the offence being his third burglary.

Judge Thorn QC told McAllister: "It was a breach of trust. You weedled your way into the friendship of the relief manager and landlady to get into her flat with Neil Farman, who is a prolific burglar.

"This was very well planned using your inside knowledge. There is no glimmer of remorse."

The court heard some of the stolen property was found at McAllister's home and items had Farman's fingerprints on them.

The jury took four hours to convict the pair following a trial.