Men broke into Blackburn home and stole sentimental items

Carl Thomas, 21, and Ryan Price, 25, along with two youths who cannot be named, entered the house in Merchants Landing at around 4.10pm on January 18.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the occupant of the house arrived home at around 4.45pm to find damage to the patio doors and conservatory windows, with glass all over the living room floor.

He found the group had taken a PlayStation 5 games console worth around £500, Armani watches worth around £1,200, and an iPad worth around £300 which contained pictures of his son.

Carl Thomas (Image: Lancashire Police)

The incident was captured on the property's CCTV system.

Jane Dagnall, prosecuting, said Thomas was seen on CCTV approaching and knocking on the front door.

Just minutes later, all four were seen approaching the rear of the property.

Price could then be seen smashing his way into the conservatory while Thomas stayed and played lookout.

Footage of the incident was posted on social media by the homeowner, and information collected from that was passed to the police.

Both Thomas and Price were arrested on February 14 and gave no comment interviews.

In a victim impact statement, the homeowner said he had planned to pass the watches on to his son, and that one had been a gift from his father when he graduated from university, and another was a wedding present.

Some of the items have yet to be recovered, and due to their sentimentality were said to be irreplaceable to the victim.

Thomas was also being sentenced for offences of driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified, and failing to stop.

On December 15 at around 10.40am, police were called to the hostel where he was residing to reports he was driving a moped.

He left the scene on a moped despite being told to stop by police.

Thomas, of Islington, Blackburn, had previously been given a suspended sentence following a burglary at Witton Business Park in August.

Price, whose last given address was New Hall Lane, Preston, but formerly of Islington, Blackburn, was on post-release supervision at the time of this offence.

Both pleaded guilty to burglary, and Thomas also pleaded guilty to the driving offences.

Charlotte Phillips, mitigating for Thomas, said her client had submitted an early guilty plea and he had taken responsibility for his actions from the outset.

Ryan Price (Image: Lancashire Police)

David Morton, for Price, said his client had no excuses for his behaviour.

Judge Richard Archer, in sentencing, said: “You’re not simply stealing someone’s property, you are taking away their privacy and sense of safety, leaving them feeling like they cannot be safe in their own home.

“You have deprived them of property of significant sentimental value. Some of those watches have not been recovered.

“You knew what you were doing. This was not a wholly spontaneous offence.”

Thomas was sentenced to two years and five months in prison and was disqualified from driving for 23 months.

Price was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

The two youths involved in the burglary were not present or sentenced during the hearing.