TWO burglars have avoided jail time after they broke into a garden centre in Lasham armed with crowbars.

Simon Lee, 37, of Chopin Road in Basingstoke, and Jack O’Leary, 30, of Romsey Road in Winchester, broke into Avenue Nurseries Garden Centre on January 30, 2020.

During a hearing held at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, May 31, the men were sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. 

They both pleaded guilty to the offence on April 24 this year.

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Prosecuting, Gary Venturi told the court that the burglary took place three years ago. He said the owner of the premises was notified of 'suspicious' activity by the sound of an alarm and along with his son attended the premises.

He said: "The owner was able to check an app, which gave access to CCTV and it made it clear there were signs of a break-in."

He told the court the owner and his son "started to investigate the scene themselves" and noticed a black BMW parked outside with the keys in the ignition, which he said the pair removed before entering the property.

He continued: "After some time they came across two males. Both were armed and equipped with crowbars having entered the premises as burglars."

He told the court, it is unclear who, but one defendant hit the owner's son over the head with a crowbar leaving him with a serious head injury. The defendants then fled the scene on foot.

Lee currently has 30 previous convictions, while O’Leary has 28.

In mitigation for O’Leary, Laura Williams said his last dishonesty offence was committed 11 years ago.

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She said he has also shown signs of a "different future, maturing and a desire to do better".

In mitigation for Lee, Michael Shilliday said: "He has wholesomely confessed and offered wholesome remorse and genuine remorse. He is a man who is terrified of what will happen to his family if he goes to prison."

Summing up, Judge Tom Brown, said: "You had both attended the garden centre in a black car, which was left near the garden centre with the keys in the ignition and you had entered the premises each armed with crowbars.

"I accept that your likely thinking would have been that no one would have been in the premises at the time and the reason for you having crowbars was to gain access to the premises. But what is apparent from the accounts is that you each had crowbars in your hands.

"You fled the scene and were apprehended sometime later and for a considerable period of time did not accept you had committed the crime."

They must each pay compensation costs of £320. Lee must also pay a fine of £30 for breaching a separate suspended sentence order.