Groom raided his OWN wedding venue in £60,000 masked raid after owner even gave couple half-price discount

When a wedding reception organiser decided to help out two hard-up friends by laying on a half price champagne buffet, the least she could have expected was a thank you.

Instead, the bridegroom decided to repay the kindness by vandalising and stealing from the venue - leaving the owner with a £60,000 bill.

Catherine Murphy, 34, decided to help out hard up Bridie Sparks, 26, and her husband to be Christopher Richards, by laying on the half-price champagne buffet for 90 guests.

The bride-to-be had approached the owner of the Bacup Hub in Lancashire in tears, and explained how the couple would be unable to get married because they did not have enough money.

But after Ms Murphy decided to put on the discounted reception, unemployed Richards, 25, and his usher George Taylor, 23, returned to the venue and carried out a sickening late night raid.

After appearing before magistrates in Burnley, both Richards and Taylor admitted burglary.

Speaking to the Daily Express, a sickened Ms Murphy, an accountant, said: 'I have been deeply hurt because I considered the couple to be my friends.

'They had very little money so I went out of my way to make sure they had the wedding they wanted with a red carpet, buffet and champagne and I have been slapped in the face by people I thought were friends.

'I let Chris have use of the premises for nothing and this has revealed just what sort of person he is.'

The couple wed at the venue in August last year. Richards and Taylor will be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court next month.

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