A FATHER and son who targeted isolated homes across the North-East for high-value burglaries were jailed for a total of ten years yesterday.

Grant Curley and son Michael carried out a string of raids at remote farmhouses and country homes.

Police nicknamed them the "foot-and-mouth burglars" because they struck during the peak of the disease outbreak.

Among properties they burgled was the home of east Durham motorcycle dealer David Sykes, who was away on holiday in July last year.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that £30,000 of antiques were taken from the house at Blackhall Rocks, on the Durham coast.

Tim Evans, prosecuting, said Grant Curley cut his hand in the raid and, to remove bloodstains to prevent DNA evidence being found, started a fire that caused more than £200,000 worth of damage.

Mr Evans said: "This was an enormous burgling operation. They were eventually linked to break-ins in places as far afield as Scarborough, in North Yorkshire, Corbridge, in Northumberland, and the Cumbrian towns of Kendal, Penrith and Brampton."

Forty-six-year-old Grant Curley, of Luke Crescent, Murton, east Durham, had been convicted of arson by a jury at Durham Crown Court in June. He admitted conspiracy to burgle.

Michael Curley, 24, of Fifth Street, Horden, also east Durham admitted conspiracy to burgle.

Jane Waugh, in mitigation for Michael Curley, said he was brought into the family business of burglary by his father, but now wanted to turn his back on crime.

Grant Curley was jailed for six-and-a-half years, to run alongside an existing four-and-a-half year stretch, and Michael for three-and-a-half years.

Grant Curley's wife, Evelyn, 49, was initially charged with conspiracy to burgle after she was found wearing jewellery taken in one of the break-ins.

Proceedings against her were subsequently dropped.