Ramraiders jailed for 2½ years

Two men who were part of a gang who carried out a ramraid on a cash machine at a Norwich convenience store were caught red-handed by police as they left the scene - with their pockets still stashed with £10 and £20 notes, a court heard yesterday.

Two men who were part of a gang who carried out a ramraid on a cash machine at a Norwich convenience store were caught red-handed by police as they left the scene - with their pockets still stashed with £10 and £20 notes,

a court heard yesterday.

Daryl Scott, 32, and Robin Vaughan, 31, both from Merseyside, Liverpool, were part of a masked gang who smashed their way into Steve's Convenience Store, Heathgate, in Norwich in the early hours of April 29 this year.

John Morgans, prosecuting at Norwich Crown Court, said the raid caused so much noise that it woke residents up and one of the gang shouted out "Wakey, wakey ladies and gentlemen."

Part of the gang made their getaway in a gold coloured car. but Scott used his own Renault

van and was stopped by a police officer in nearby Gurney Road.

Scott had £560 in crumpled £10 and £20 notes and Vaughan had £300 in notes.

A sledgehammer used in the raid was found in the back of the van.

The court heard that most of the cash taken from the raid was recovered

Both men admitted burglary and were jailed for two-and-a-half-years.

Recorder Ian Chandler told them: "This ram-raid type burglary is treated very seriously."

Sarah Holt, for Scott, said he bitterly regretted taking part in the raid and apologised to the owner for the trouble caused.

Ian James, for Vaughan, said that he admitted his part in the raid at an early stage.

He said while on remand he had used his time to do courses to help with his rehabilitation when released from prison.