Two men who used paving slabs and sledge hammers to smash their way into homes across Beds and Cambs have been jailed.

Aiden Long, 20, and John Stanley, 21, were sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Luton Crown Court, on Friday. June 4, after admitting a string of offences where cash, jewellery and cars. worth more than £20,000, were stolen.

The spree began on November 24 last year while the pair, who were driving around in a white Suzuki Celerio, broke into homes in School Lane, Cambourne and Rogers Close, Elsworth where jewellery, tools and identification documents were stolen.

On the same night they travelled to Headlands in Fenstanton armed with a sledgehammer and gloves but were disturbed by the owner who returned home.

On November 29 they struck again in Chestnut Grove, St Neots using a paving slab to smash into a home and steal £100 in cash.

On the same day Long and Stanley made off with a Mercedes A Class after breaking into a home in Armstrong Drive, Bedford and the white Suzuki was found burnt out in Biggleswade.

The pair then continued their spree and broke into homes in Keeley Lane, Wootton and Hereford Road, Luton.

They were apprehended while running away from a house in Kempston on December 2. Armed with stolen items and masks over their faces they were stopped by officers on patrol and arrested.

The Mercedes was found parked up nearby full of stolen goods from other burglaries.

Long, of Urban Way, Biggleswade, pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary. He also admitted a further 16 offences.

Stanley, of Sandon Close, Sandy, pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary. He also admitted a further 67 offences.

PC Nick Raouna from Cambridgeshire’s burglary team said: “This was a complex investigation into cross border offending by two young men who were prolific across Beds and Cambs over a number of months.

"They targeted high performance vehicles, homes and shops causing pain, heartache and financial loss to many victims.

“I hope that these sentences also give Long and Stanley time to reflect on their actions and make better life choices in the future. We will continue to work hard to bring offenders to justice."