Burglars ransacked a pensioner’s bungalow in Bewdley and stole more than £26,000 while he was in hospital.

The intruders’ haul also included a watch, mobile phone, air rifle and a bracelet left to the 66-year-old by his late wife, said Mr Simon Phillips, prosecuting.

They broke into sheltered housing in Wribbenhall, after the pensioner went to hospital on March 27 last year and he discovered the theft a few days later. Because the cash was mainly in old notes, police checked at local banks and found several sums had been brought in for exchange.

Two 21-year-olds Adam Phillips, of Wassell Drive, Wribbenhall, and Alexander Goodier, of Cleobury Road, Bewdley, pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court to the burglary.

Goodier also admitted the possession of a taser gun and cocaine with a street value of £1,680. Phillips’ step parents, Alberto Alberone, aged 52, and Susan Alberone, 47, admitted converting some of the stolen property totalling £7,880.

Phillips, who also admitted beating up his girlfriend while holiday in Wales, was jailed for 15 months. Goodier was jailed for 12 months.

Mrs Alberone was given a two-year conditional discharge while her husband was given a 12-month community order and told to do 150 hours unpaid work.

Mr Phillips said that Goodier used some of the stolen money to trade in cars and he also bought a motorcycle. When police raided his home, they saw him place a plastic bag on a upstairs window sill and this proved to contain cocaine.