A burgling duo made-off with cash and gold after a woman caught them raiding her home.
Anthony Coyles, 50, and Ross Clancy, 37, were caught red-handed inside a property when the homeowner heard "thumping" noises shortly before 4pm on March 21 this year. After being caught, Coyles fled from the home, with Clancy pushing the woman out of the way and following behind his co-accused.
The men managed to escape with a nine-carat gold band, £400 in cash, and a Radley purse - but they were both caught on CCTV. It wasn't long before the duo were arrested after the victim's daughter shared the footage on a South Shields Facebook group and a probation officer recognised them.
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On Friday, Coyles, of Newburn Crescent, Houghton-le-Spring, and Clancy, of no fixed address, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via links from HMP Durham to be jointly sentenced for burglary. Both had pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard that the female homeowner was in her South Tyneside property when she heard a noise and came face-to-face with the intruders. Kelly Sherif, prosecuting, said: "The victim could hear thumping coming from the front of her home. She went to investigate and saw the front door open and the frame splintered. The lock lay on the floor in the porch and the victim heard voices.
"Ross Clancy appeared at the top of the stairs and ran towards her. Anthony Coyles ran from the property and Clancy pushed the victim out of the way and caused a lamp to smash. She tried to grab him but he managed to flee. A number of items were stolen, including a nine-carat gold band, £400 cash and a Radley purse."
Following the terrifying burglary, the victim sent her home CCTV footage to her daughter, who then uploaded it to a South Shields community Facebook page. Coyles and Clancy were then recognised from the footage by a probation officer. Coyles' fingerprints were also found inside the home.
The court heard that Coyles had 44 previous convictions for 112 offences, six of which were for previous home burglaries. Clancy had 27 previous convictions for 76 offences, two of which were for burglary.
Lorraine Mustard, defending Coyles, said: "He has had a troubled background, quite disturbing in parts. His life has been a revolving door of committing offences and imprisonment. He's had a difficult upbringing and is high risk in some areas of offending."
Ms Mustard added that Coyles has difficulties with drugs but wants to "break the cycle" and "turn his life around."
Vic Laffey, defending Clancy, said at the time of the burglary he had "lapsed back into old habits of taking drugs and needing to find money to take drugs became the priority". He added: "The offence was committed on the back of that. It was decided on the spur of the moment to commit this offence, it had just been decided a couple of minutes before."
Recorder Chris Williams handed both Clancy and Coyles three-year prison sentences.
