TWO burglars have been jailed after admitting their involvement in a catalogue of crimes across Andover, including aggravated burglary.

George Whiffin and Tarik Oliveira have been sentenced to a combined total of nine years in prison following an investigation into 23 burglaries in Andover and Whitchurch.

The pair were separately arrested in London following the series of crimes, charged and later sentenced.

Whiffin, whose address is listed as HMP Winchester, was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison after appearing in Salisbury Crown Court on March 30.

The 22-year-old admitted to the aggravated burglary of a property at Genoa Court in September in which the victim was threatened with a knife on returning home for her lunch.

He further admitted to two burglaries in Whitchurch, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison for each to run alongside the seven-year sentence, and to assaulting a police officer receiving a two-month custodial sentence, also to run at the same time as the seven-year stretch.

During a search of a property in Freemantle Street, Southwark, Greater London, in December, Whiffin was found to be in possession of a number of stolen items and later admitted handling stolen goods.

He was sentenced to two years in prison for each count to be served at the same time as the seven-year sentence. He was also made the subject of a criminal behaviour order for 10 years preventing him from entering Hampshire.

Appearing in Winchester Crown Court a week later on April 6, Oliveira was sentenced to two years in a young offender institute.

The 18-year-old, of Arch Street, London, pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary.

The crimes saw a homeowner being assaulted by him, a car being stolen and a vast amount of personal property taken totalling over £10,000. A significant amount of property was never recovered.

He admitted to stealing money, Apple products, jewellery, designer items, an air rifle and a Fiat 500.