AXE, hammer and crowbarwielding burglars who committed a violent raid on an Andover property have been jailed for a combined total of more than 26 years.

Lee McNair, Kenny Samual Jackson aka Mostyn-Lloyd, Ronald Paul Dean and Rupert James were sentenced in Winchester Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to the aggravated burglary of a Turin Court property in August.

The ringleaders, McNair of Tallis Gardens, Basingstoke, and Jackson (aka Mostyn-Lloyd) of no fixed address, were both sentenced to seven years and four months.

McNair admitted to entering and stealing from the property while wielding a hammer and to being concerned in the supply of a quantity of the class A drug diamorphine (heroin).

The 37-year-old was also given an additional six-month prison sentence to run alongside the seven-year term after further pleading guilty to stealing a Mercedes C180 from Tallis Gardens in Basingstoke and to driving that car without a driving licence or insurance.

Jackson (aka Mostyn- Lloyd), 30, admitted being armed with a crow bar as he entered the Turin Court premises and additionally admitted to stealing £170 from a property in Rhodes Square.

Dean, 32, also of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to carrying an axe as he committed the burglary and received a sentence of six years and eight months along with co-defendant Rupert James, 45, of Castle Road, Basingstoke, who was also armed with an offensive weapon.

A fifth female defendant, Nicola Louise Absolom, 34, of Attwood Close, Basingstoke, admitted to aggravated burglary and was sentenced to a community order in September.

Following the sentence, trainee Detective Constable Mike Higgins said: “This was a very serious offence which involved the use of threats and violence against the victims. The case was built on an excellent initial response and police work and, due to the weight of evidence gathered, the defendants pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“The success of the case was based on the fact that our colleagues at Andover response and patrol were able to stop the defendants’ vehicle within five minutes of the offence taking place and were able to recover the stolen goods.

“All four offenders were sentenced on Friday, September 30, and received strong sentences, particularly given their early guilty pleas.

“The two ringleaders, McNair and Jackson (aka MostynLloyd), both received seven years and four months while their co-defendants, James and Dean, both received six years and eight months.

“We are very pleased with the result of the hearing, and that justice has been delivered by the courts who are dealing with this type of serious offence.”