A burglar who was part of a gang that vandalised an Ipswich town centre cafe has been given a suspended prison sentence.

CCTV operators alerted the police in the early hours of October 19 last year after noticing suspicious activity in Russell Road, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When officers arrived they found a rear window at Cool Beanz cafe was slightly ajar and they could hear the sound of smashing coming from inside the premises.

The officers shouted “Stop. Police” and three figures appeared from behind the counter area and ran off along Russell Road.

One of the men was caught by an officer who recognised him as 28-year-old Luke Ramsey who he had stopped and searched earlier in the day, said Claire Matthews, prosecuting.

As the officer tried to handcuff him, Ramsey pulled away violently and ran off causing the officer to fall over, causing a graze to his knee and a one inch cut to his thumb.

Ramsey was arrested several hours later at a house in Pickwick Road and was found in possession of a small amount of cannabis for personal use.

Miss Matthews said the three burglars were carrying a sledgehammer, a pick axe handle and a long pole when they entered Cool Beanz from the rear of the premises shortly before 3am.

During the raid the glass front door was shattered and a store room door was removed. In addition police found axe marks on the safe, said Miss Matthews.

Ramsey, formerly of Pickwick Road, Ipswich, admitted burglary with intent to steal at Cool Beanz, assaulting a police officer by beating and possession of cannabis.

He asked for five offences to be considered and was given a 19 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and to take part in a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Richard Conley, representing Ramsey, said his client had now changed his life for the better and his criminal offending was in the past.

He claimed that Ramsey had been put under pressure to take part in the burglary after giving evidence in a court case.