TWO Winchester drug addicts, who burgled a city centre home armed with hockey sticks while the family was at home, have both been jailed.

Kevin Blake, 42, and David Rolfe, 41, admitted the raid on a home in St Clement Street.

Their crime terrified the family which included two children who were in bed upstairs on the evening of December 20 last year, a court heard.

Blake and Rolfe were armed with hockey sticks, wore gloves and snoods to disguise themselves.

READ MORE HERE: TV company making documentary on 2016 conviction of Matthew Hamlen for murder of Georgina Edmonds in Brambridge in 2008

On entering the flat they stole a Amex card from a handbag which they used soon afterwards in the Tesco Express store on the High Street.

Winchester Crown Court heard on Friday that both men had a long history of offending: Blake for drugs and dishonesty and Rolfe with six previous convictions for burglary.

Both men had spent time on remand trying to tackle their drugs addiction.

Rebecca Fairbairn, mitigating for Blake, said: "He is nearly 43 and has a terrible record." She added that he would lose his accommodation if jailed. "He says he is a changed man. This is a plea for mercy. It is the first time in 42 years that he has had accommodation of his own. He can only ask your honour to give him a chance."

SEE ALSO: Hampshire mudlarker searching river beds for historical artefacts

Sentencing, Judge Susan Evans QC told the pair: "To invade a persons's home is a terrible thing particularly when they are present."

The defendants also admitted shoplifting from Boots on the High Street on December 13, stealing gifts to the value of £500.

Blake, of Christchurch Road, was jailed for 25 months. Rolfe, of no fixed abode but a longtime Stanmore resident, was jailed for 30 months.

 

 

A message from the editor

 

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support.

 

 

Subscribing means you have unrestricted access to the latest news and reader rewards - all with an advertising-light website.

 

 

Don't take my word for it – subscribe here to see for yourself.

 

 

Looking to advertise an event? Then check out our free events guide.

 

 

Want to keep up with the latest news and join in the debate? You can find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.