A burglar caught trying to steal from a champagne fridge at a hotel in Manchester city centre claimed he was retrieving a coin he had dropped doing a trick.
James Hobbs, 47, wasn't a guest and claimed he had gone into the Britannia Hotel on Portland Street to use the toilet and freshen up as he was sleeping rough at the time.
However, magistrates were told the staff were alerted after an alarm went off on a fridge containing numerous bottles of champagne, wine and beer in the bar area, which was closed at the time.
The alarm goes off if anyone pulls firmly on the door, the court was told.
They went to investigate and found Hobbs behind the bar and detained him, to stop him from leaving until officers arrived.
He was then arrested and taken to the police station for interview.
There he claimed that after using the toilet he had walked through the bar and that he was 'doing some sort of trick involving a £2 coin on his elbow' and that the coin fell and rolled behind the bar.
He admitted he had been smoking Spice and said he had a 'little nosey' behind the bar - but denied touching the fridge or having any intention to steal.
Hobbs, of Kew Drive, Urmston, Trafford, pleaded not guilty to a charge of burglary at an earlier hearing.
Giving evidence he said: "I apologise for going in. I know these are places of business and they don't want homeless people hanging around.
"But the only reason was to use the lavatory.
"I was walking through the bar and I have dropped a coin. It was only a small door so I just went through and had a little nosey round.
"I had been smoking that Spice, I shouldn't have done it.
"But I never touched the fridge. That much is true."
However magistrates found him guilty after a short trial at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Monday.
They said: "Mr Hobbs you gave evidence but we found it inconsistent with the CCTV we have seen.
"We have formed the view that you did enter the bar with the intention to steal and we do find the matter proved."
He also pleaded guilty to public order offences on separate dates. He will be sentenced at a later date.
