A DRUNK soldier who stole a Qu’ran from a mosque after smashing his way in has been spared jail.
Liam King, 22, who had recently served in Afghanistan, had drunk so much he couldn’t remember breaking into the Jamia Masjid Mosque, in Parkway, on December 15 last year.
When he got in, he made for where the Holy Book was kept.
It was the second time in three weeks he had forced his way into the mosque.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Monday that King, of Eastwood Park, Great Baddow, initially broke a lock to the mosque on November 23.
Three weeks later, King went to the mosque with two other men.
CCTV showed the “clearly drunk” trio breaking the lock again and entering the building.
King, who serves in the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, admitted one burglary charge and one criminal damage charge last month.
He was given 12- months in jail, suspended for two years for the burglary charge and one month suspended sentence for the criminal damage.
King was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within one year, and must pay £1,200 costs and £175 compensation to the mosque.