TWO men who burgled a family home following a drug-fuelled 40th birthday celebration have been jailed.

Steven Gorvett and Paul Blackmore celebrated the former's 40th birthday by bingeing on cocaine before committing a 'high value' burglary in a property where two young children were asleep upstairs.

Now, the pair have been jailed for three years each.

On Friday, Warrington Crown Court heard that the pair had 'gone out looking for somewhere to burgle' following Gorvett's birthday celebrations in June.

The pair spotted a property on Brackley Street in Stockton Heath with a BMW on the driveway and a window open.

Once inside they took property worth thousands of pounds, including laptops, bikes, mobile phones, keys to the BMW, cash and bank cards.

Gorvett and Blackmore used the bank cards to make a number of purchases, including one at the Esso Petrol Station on Knutsford Road in Latchford.

Police then recognised the pair on CCTV captured at the garage, before officers saw Gorvett cycling along Knutsford Road and arrested him.

The 40-year-old, of Knutsford Road, had heroin, cocaine and a flick knife in his possession at the time - as well as stolen bank cards and the BMW key.

Blackmore, 41, attempted to hide in his loft when police visited his home on Gaskell Avenue in Latchford later that day but he was discovered and arrested.

A 'large portion' of the stolen items were returned to the family, but around £1,100 worth remains missing.

Gorvett and Blackmore's actions have led to the family considering whether to move away from the UK.

A victim personal statement, read out in court, said: "The thought of them being in our house while we were asleep is scary.

"We feel nervous and worried about what happened - our lives were put at risk."

Defending barrister Sarah Griffin said that Gorvett was 'extremely sorry for his actions', with the dad to a two-year-old child's third burglary coming after he had fallen into rent arrears.

Gorvett was jailed for 32 months after admitting burglary and four counts of fraud, as well as possession of an offensive weapon, heroin and cocaine.

Simeone Evans, representing Blackmore, told the court that his client had 'considerable mental health difficulties' and was 'off his head' at the time of the offending.

Blackmore, who told police that he remembered little of the incident after being arrested, admitted his fifth burglary as well as four counts of fraud and was jailed for three years.

His honour judge Simon Berkson also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the weapon and drugs.

Sentencing, judge Berkson said: "This was a seriously burglary.

"Both of you have a long career of criminality and you didn't care if anyone was in the property - including children.

"You thought that your lives were more important than anyone else's."

Gorvett and Blackmore will serve half of their sentences before being released on license and were also ordered to pay victim surcharges.

Detective constable Vicky Goodwin said: "Blackmore and Gorvett believed that they were above the law.

"They targeted a family in their own home - the one place they should feel safe - whilst the owners and their two young children were asleep.

"Thankfully, as a result of a swift investigation and great teamwork by the officers here at Warrington CID, the pair were arrested within hours of committing the burglary and we were able to reunite the victims with a lot of the items that were stolen.

"As a result of the extensive evidence gathered against them, the pair were left with no option but to plead guilty to all of the charges brought against them.

"I hope that the sentences handed to Blackmore and Gorvett will provide closure for the victims and send a clear message to others that crime does not pay."