TWO "callous" burglars – one of which was high on a cocktail of M-cat and diazepam – have been locked up after they "ransacked" a man's home and "stripped" it of anything valuable.
They were both caught "practically red-handed" as they tried to flee from the back garden after the raid, a court heard.
Nathan Webster, 19, of Carnforth Crescent, Grimsby, and Aydn Faulder, 20, of Milton Road, Grimsby, admitted burglary on August 7.
Helen Wheatley, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that the occupier returned home to find police at his flat.
Two rear windows had been forced at the premises in Chester Walk, Grimsby, and every room had been searched. Clothes had been thrown out of a window and were strewn across the back garden.
A 42in television, games consoles and equipment, a mountain bike, a remote control, a bottle of aftershave and two mobile phones had been stolen.
Both intruders tried to escape from the garden and a police officer tried to grab one of them. Faulder hurled a can of aerosol towards an officer, but he was chased and wrestled to the ground.
He had been taking diazepam and M-cat – adding yet more weight to the Grimsby Telegraph's campaign to highlight the dangers of the illegal drug, and the adverse psychological effects it can have on users.
Webster was detained in Digby Gardens. All the stolen property was recovered.
Judge David Tremberg told the pair: "You two worked as a team to force entry to the complainant's home. Once inside, it was ransacked.
"You showed callous contempt for his home, his property and his privacy. You acted as a team to strip the property of all items of value you could find, both big and small.
"You were caught practically red-handed. Your intention was to strip this man of practically everything that he owned."
Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said high value items were stolen during an untidy search but the burglars were not "organised criminals". A large number of diazepam tablets were found on Webster.
He had been in custody for 32 days and was already serving a custodial sentence. He started using diazepam after "hanging around" with old associates.
Craig Lowe, representing Faulder, said all the stolen items were recovered. Faulder made very early admissions, showed remorse and had spent 105 days in custody.
"Alcohol, in addition to drugs, played a big part in this offence," said Mr Lowe.
Webster, who also admitted possessing diazepam, was locked up for two years and three months.
Faulder, who had previously been given an anti-social behaviour order, was given 22 months' custody.
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