Last updated at 12:58, Saturday, 11 August 2012

A Carlisle couple avoided a middle-of-the night confrontation with two drug addict burglars only because they were still downstairs making plans for their holiday, a court heard.

Although it was 3.20am the couple had still not gone to bed.

So they were not in their bedroom when Martin Bainbridge and Daniel Kirkpatrick climbed in through the window to steal at least £2,500-worth of their jewellery.

The husband did hear noises from upstairs, but by the time he got there to investigate the intruders had gone.

The pair were quickly traced because one of them left his distinctive footprints at the scene.

At Carlisle Crown Court Bainbridge, 29, of Melbourne Road, Carlisle, and Kirkpatrick, 24, of Raven Nook in the city, pleaded guilty to burglary.

They both were said to have “formidable” criminal records.

Judge Paul Batty QC jailed both of them for 32 months.

He said it was obvious they had selected the house in Walk Mill Crescent, off Warwick Road, because it looked like the sort of property where they were going to find valuable items to steal.

First published at 10:52, Saturday, 11 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk