TWO burglars who 'trashed' a house in Lowestoft while the owner was visiting her mother in hospital have been jailed for 16 months.

After the hearing at Ipswich Crown Court, detectives praised the custodial sentences handed down to Steven Lee and Andrew Reilly as a major boost in their battle against house burglaries.

The court heard on Monday that Lee, 25, and Reilly, 22, decided to break into the property in Rose Court after overhearing the owner mention that she would be out,.

Patricia Doggett, prosecuting, said that on the day of the burglary, the woman met her son in the street while he was with Lee and Reilly and, during their conversation, she mentioned she was on her way to the hospital.

Shortly afterwards, her son left Reilly and Lee. But later that day, the woman was informed by her daughter that their house had been burgled. Items including mobile phones, a games console controller, games, a DVD player and jewellery worth �400 were stolen and the property had been 'trashed', Ms Doggett said.

Lee and Reilly were later arrested and the majority of the stolen items were recovered from them.

Reilly, of Zanetta Court, Lowestoft, admitted burglary, making a false representation and possession of amphetamine, with seven offences taken into consideration.

Lee, of Waveney Crescent, Lowestoft, admitted burglary and possessing a knife.

Matthew Gowen, for Reilly, told the court that he now wanted to turn his life around.

Jonathan Goodman, for Lee, said that at the time of the offence, his client had been drinking too much after his partner left him, but they were now reconciled.

Speaking after the case, Det Insp Darrell Skuse told The Journal: 'We are always working to arrest and charge those who commit house burglaries in Lowestoft... We are pleased that both have received prison sentences as it sends a message that house burglaries are a serious offence that can have a huge impact on householders.'

He added: 'Lee was interviewed by detectives and despite initial denials eventually admitted his involvement. Reilly made no comment to all questions but was charged anyway and fingerprint hits later confirmed both had been involved.

'Reilly later decided to co-operate with our Operation Converter team and admitted further offences, including shed burglaries at Martins Avenue and John Street and vehicle crime offences in Beaconsfield Road and Delius Close in February, helping to give more victims of crime some peace of mind that an offender had been traced and dealt with.'