Raids pair get 12 years

Two brothers who were part of a burglary gang which terrorised families in the suburbs of Wolverhampton were locked up for a total of 12 years this afternoon.

Residents were threatened with knives and even a gun as brothers Michael and Christopher Gardner targeted upmarket suburbs, smashing down front doors and windows.

Computers, TVs, jewellery and even champagne were taken.

Two families were attacked in their own homes as masked men scoured rooms looking for valuables.

The gang always struck in the evening, once when a couple were having their tea as the children slept upstairs.

On four other occasions they raided empty homes, leaving muddy footprints behind which gave detectives vital clues.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court this afternoon, Judge Nicholas Webb ruled Christopher Gardner, aged 17, of Eastney Crescent, Pendeford, should be named after the Express & Star asked for reporting restrictions to be lifted.

He and his 23-year-old brother Michael, of Luce Road, Low Hill, admitted conspiracy to burgle in a spree between October 2006 and January 2007.

Michael Gardner smirked and winked at the public gallery as he was jailed for seven years. His brother got five years youth custody.

Witnesses spotted the raiders, wearing scarves and hoods, dumping bin-bags full of stolen property from a house in Fordhouses into the boot of Michael Gardner's car. A phone from that raid was later found in Christopher Gardner's bedroom.

Judge Webb said: "These offences targeted high value properties and were committed with total callousness."