A FATHER and son's 'well planned heist' of a jewellers in Tetbury went badly wrong when they were disturbed during the raid - and then crashed their car as they fled, a jury was told today.

Craig McShane, 39, of Long Street, Tetbury and his father Mark Hawkins, 61, of Lansdown Crescent, Cheltenham, deny burglary of Taylor Black jewellers in Market Place, Tetbury on June 29, 2016 with intent to steal a safe.

Prosecutor, Alistair Hegarty, told the jury "Sometimes even the best laid plans can end in calamity.

"This is a case of a well planned heist going badly wrong.

"At 3.10am, police received a call from Phillipa Taylor at the jewellers. She said she had just disturbed masked men who had tried to remove the safe. Soon after this the police were called to a motor vehicle crash, and the two defendants were there.

"They had crashed their getaway car!"

Mr Hegarty said "Mrs Taylor had been asleep in the flat above the shop, and when awoken she was faced downstairs by a man with a mask. She believed that they were about to drag the safe to a car with a chain.

"Both vehicles she saw outside had their engines running. She says at least three people were involved.

"One vehicle was an Audi, and the other was an estate with a tow bar.

"They had damaged the shop door beyond repair, causing over £1,000 worth of damage,"

"Despite the carnage caused by the offenders, those responsible got away, and the trail went cold, save for what happened thirty minutes later at the Golden Heart pub on the A417.

"These two defendants were in an Audi A8. They had been involved in a a collision. Mr Hawkins was being treated by paramedics, but Mr McShane got out and told the police that he was an antiques dealer going to London.

"He said that he had left his wallet at home, and was going back for it, but his wallet was found on him by police.

Mr Hegarty said that McShane said to officers "I'm in shock" to explain the discovery of the wallet.

Whilst Hawkins was taken to hospital to have his injuries treated McShane was arrested, and two mobile phones were found on him and later forensically examined, said the prosecutor.

Mr Hegarty claimed that "8-10 metres away from the Audi, police officers found gloves and several black balaclavas."

Mr Hegarty suggested to the jury that it was "significant that these items were dry, despite the ground being damp with dew."

Mr Hegarty also alleged that Hawkins was found to be wearing a "ski breath guard".

The prosecutor claimed that in the boot of the Audi more gloves, coats and balaclavas were found.

He also pointed to fragments of glass, which he said were found in the passenger seat of the Audi.

"These fragments were analysed by a Dr Lovelock. The pieces of glass from the Audi and from Taylor Black were indistinguishable," he claimed. "This was a very rarely encountered type of glass, yet the Audi and scene of crime glass matched."

Mr Hegarty said that police constable Pearson carried out an investigation of the route from Tetbury and found a discarded number plate "which was the exact number plate seen on the estate by the victim" he alleged.

"It had been stolen shortly before from a Mercedes Benz motor car," he told the jury and then said "they then found a Volvo V70 in Siddington missing a glass cluster. The pieces found at the scene fitted together perfectly like a jigsaw" he claimed.

Mr Hegarty said "the previous owner of the V70 was Michael Snook, and sold it on Ebay on March 28, 2016. The purchaser gave false name and details on the log book.

"Craig McShane had accessed Ebay 67 times to look at Volvo V70s, including just one hour before it was sold, the exact same car that we say was involved.

"After March 28 he did not look on Ebay for Volvos again," Mr Hegarty alleged.

The prosecutor told the jury that in his police interview, McShane replied no comment, but that due to his injuries Hawkins was taken to hospital and was not interviewed until August.

"Mr Hawkins said he was on his way to London, but his son had forgotten something and they went back. However he said 'no comment' to questions about the V70 or the burglary."

McShane was interviewed by police on January 9, 2017, Mr Hegarty said.

"He denied the burglary. He said he had gone to meet his father at 2.45am to travel to London. They began to drive to London, but he had forgotten his money, so they turned the car around, and then crashed the car. They stopped at The Golden Heart to inspect the damage.

"They claimed they weren't there at all," Mr Hegarty continued. "We say they were active participants in the burglary.

"The man on the CCTV may not be either of the defendants, we know others were there, as Mrs Taylor saw others in the cars.

"The crown rely on circumstantial evidence," the prosecutor said. "It can be very potent evidence.

"The defendants were in the Audi less than thirty minutes after a burglary. Recent discarded gloves and balaclavas were found outside, and further gloves and balaclavas were found inside the car. Fragments of glass are found in the Audi.

"The behaviour of Mr McShane we say is unusual and furtive" Mr Hegarty claimed. "He said he has lost his wallet and car keys, but they were found in the car.

"Mr Hawkins was wearing a ski breath guard despite it being in June," he continued.

"There are too many co-incidences. All of these point to these two defendants being guilty."

The trial continues tomorrow.