Two burglars who took part in a string of break-ins in east and west Suffolk during which jewellery worth thousands of pounds was stolen have been given jail terms totalling more than 12 years.

Sentencing Timothy Price and Robbie Sharp, Judge David Goodin described the offences as “planned, deliberate and serious”.

Price, 32, of no fixed address, and Sharp, 29, of Westcliff-on-Sea, admitted two burglaries at houses in Woodbridge Road, Bredfield near Woodbridge and one at a property in Fornham All Saints near Bury St Edmunds. Price also admitted two further burglaries at houses in Downing Drive, Great Barton and Ixworth Road, Thurston.

Sharp was jailed for six years and four months and Price was jailed for six years.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, said that jewellery worth £15,000 was stolen during the break-in in Downing Drive, Great Barton on October 12 last year.

Three days later another detached house in Ixworth Road, Thurston, was raided and property worth £47,000, including an £8,000 engagement ring, was stolen.

The three burglaries which involved both Price and Sharp all took place on October 16 last year. Property stolen during a burglary at Pound Meadow in Fornham All Saints was valued at £16,000 and jewellery and silverware of an unknown value were stolen during burglaries at two houses in Woodbridge Road, Bredfield on the same day, said Mr Sadd.

Thomas Daniel, for Sharp, said his client had a history of committing offences after using drink and drugs as a way of shutting out his problems.

Richard Paton-Philip, for Price, said his client had been a getaway driver for the burglaries but accepted he was fully aware of what was going on.