TWO burglars were jailed yesterday after police caught them red-handed stealing antique silverware from a country cottage.

The police were keeping observations on a white Transit van when it parked at the back of a cottage near Sedgefield in County Durham.

They watched as two men bagged up thousands of pounds worth of antique silverware and jewellery, and left their haul outside, ready for a getaway.

It was then that police pounced, said prosecutor Shaun Dryden.

Grant Curley, 45, a professional burglar for 30-years, and Richard Clough, 35, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to burgling the cottage last month in Sedgefield.

They claimed that they went out looking for scrap metal but decided to raid the cottage on the spur of the moment, said David Graham, defending Curley.

But Judge David Bryant told the pair: "I have no doubt whatever that you were out on an expedition to burgle a dwelling house, that you targeted this dwelling house.

"I am asked to give you credit for the fact that no property was lost, certainly the credit for that is due to the Durham Constabulary and not to you.

"If you had your way a very substantial amount of property would be lost. I must deal with you on the basis that you took part in a serious, deliberate, planned burglary."

Curley of Luke Terrace, Murton, was jailed for four and a half years, while Clough, of Byers Green, Hetton le Downs, was jailed for two and a half years