A GANG of criminals have been jailed after a targeted burglary in Daresbury backfired.

David Furlong, Raymond Nicholls and Connor Crawford, from Liverpool met with David Plummer, Jazz Boscom-Williams and Stefan Smith, from Manchester after hearing that the victim Paul Benson would be ‘rich pickings’.

They met near to the four bedroom home on Woodthorn Close, Daresbury, on January 5.

Kim Halsall, prosecuting, told Chester Crown Court on Friday, that a resident spotted a black VW Golf and an VW Audi being driven up the road at 2.30am – both without headlights on.

He then spotted three men in Mr Benson’s garden wearing balaclavas and hoods.

CCTV recorded the men trying to gain entry to the home with a spade.

Miss Halsall said: “Mr Benson was awoken. The next thing he was aware of was three men coming into his bedroom.

“He tried to get hold of an air rifle. The defendants were saying ‘it’s the police’ and making demands for money and jewellery.”

Mr Benson was hit to the right hand side of his face and had cuts near his eye and Miss Szczepanska, his partner, was assaulted and had a gash to her head.

Police arrived at the home and saw Nicholls, aged 23, and Crawford, aged 20, walking away from the home looking agitated.

They heard a high pitched scream and found Smith, aged 21, near a bush near to the Audi and Plummer, aged 28, in a garden.

Boscom-Williams, aged 19, was chased by officers and found after he dumped clothing. Furlong, aged 21, was still inside the Audi.

An iPhone, Nintendo DS game console, digital camera, bracelets and face masks were among the items recovered.

Oliver King, defending Plummer, who has previous convictions including death by dangerous driving, said his long-term partner is pregnant with their third child.

Michael Scholes, defending Nicholls, said he is of a big build, which may be why he was asked to go inside the house. He was said to be a talented footballer who had played at a professional level.

Smith was said by his barrister Sarah Johnston to have never been before a crown court.

He had achieved an art diploma while on remand. He was also being sentenced for affray from a incident in Manchester.

David Williams, defending Crawford, said his client was a self-taught mechanic and was confident that he could find a job. He did not go upstairs in Mr Benson’s home.

Furlong, defended by Ben Morris, said his client was the driver and did not know violence was going to be used. He said Furlong wanted to support his three-month-old son.

Judge David Hale said: “Somehow it came to your knowledge that there was a man who lived in Daresbury who was likely to have money, likely to be rich pickings.

“It was clearly a planned and deliberate scheme.”

He said he took into account that the Manchester defendants had been brought up in the ‘toughest’ areas of the city and did not have many criminal records.

All defendants were jailed for the burglary. Plummer received 30 months, Smith 34 months, Nicholls two years, and Crawford 18 months in a young offenders’ institution and Furlong 12 months.

Boscom-Williams, who admitted robbery, will be sentenced next year.