IPSWICH: Three men who broke into a house and stole property worth �11,000 were caught “red-handed” by police, a court has heard.

Officers saw Luke Talman waiting in a car outside a detached house in Moss Lane, Westerfield, near Ipswich, and saw his two accomplices, Terry Evans and Leon Marshall, in the porch of the property, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Talman tried to drive off with Evans when they saw the police, but were arrested after they found their path blocked by a stationary vehicle, Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said.

Meanwhile, Marshall tried to run off, but was stopped by the officers. Jewellery and money to the value of �11,000 was found on the defendants and recovered.

“These defendants were caught red-handed as they were burgling the premises at lunchtime,” Mr Crimp said.

Talman, 25, of Beatrice Close, Evans, 30, of Siloam Place and Leon Marshall, 29, of Coniston Square West, all of Ipswich, admitted burglary on December 6 last year.

Evans, who admitted being in breach of two suspended prison sentences, was jailed for a total of 14 months and Marshall was jailed for nine months.

Talman was given a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months and was made the subject of a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Sentencing the men, Judge Peter Fenn said the victims of burglary were left feeling insecure in their homes and disgusted that someone had rifled through their personal possessions.

The court heard that Evans had admitted kicking open the front door and going into the property with Marshall while Talman waited in the getaway car.

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