TWO men who carried out a series of night-time burglaries on shops, including a Waitrose in Chipping Sodbury, using stolen vehicles have been jailed by Taunton Crown Court today.

Alistair Rutter, 26, from Street, was jailed for five and a half years for five offences. Johnathan Hughes, 22, from Yeovil, was jailed for three and a half years for his part in three of those burglaries.

Between April 1 and May 1, four other burglaries were committed by Rutter. Hughes was not present for two, including the Chipping Sodbury burglary. Both admitted all offences they were sentenced for.

The court heard that both men had drug problems which had led to committing these offences, and that they used stolen vehicles, hammers and crowbars to help them gain access to the shops.

At Chipping Sodbury, an attempt was made to remove and break into the shop’s cash dispenser.

Forensic evidence helped convict both men. Hughes' blood was found in an ATM machine they attempted to empty during the Queen Camel burglary, and Rutter's footprint was identified on a piece of paper on the floor there.

Among the vehicles stolen were a Mitsubishi truck, Land Rover Defender, Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. All were taken shortly before the burglaries and used to remove shop doors and ATMs with chains and ropes, or as getaway vehicles.

After the hearing DS Scott Chadwick said: "I am pleased with the sentences handed to Rutter and Hughes.

"They caused widespread mayhem and fear within the local communities. By stealing work vehicles and targeting small isolated shops people were stopped from working and caused a great deal of financial loss.

"Cash points were literally ripped out of stores using stolen vehicles or using the vehicle to raid the store."

During the hearing, Hughes was also sentenced for an assault on a former girlfriend for which he was given a six month prison sentence to be served concurrently. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage of her property, including dowsing personal items with chili sauce and mustard, and for theft of her phone. He received a month in prison for each offence, also to be served concurrently.