A FATHER and son burglary team who carried out a botched raid on a jewellery shop in Tetbury have been sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court.

Dad Mark Hawkins, 62, of Lansdown Crescent, Cheltenham was jailed for three years but his son, antiques dealer, Craig McShane, 39, of Long Street, Tetbury, walked free from court with a suspended sentence.

The pair were caught after McShane crashed their getaway car on the A417 near the Golden Heart Inn, Nettleton Bottom, half an hour after their raid on Taylor Black Jewellery in Tetbury on June 29, 2016.

McShane, who runs two antiques shops in Tetbury, and his dad spent three days on trial last month after denying burglary with intent to steal.

However, they were both found guilty by a jury unanimously.

Alistair Haggerty, prosecuting, had described how several men raided the shop at 3.10am - disturbing the owner, Philippa Taylor, who was asleep in a flat above.

"She was faced downstairs by a man with a mask," he said.

"She believed that the intruders were about to drag her safe out with a chain attached to a car.

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

Judge Michael Cullum heard that McShane still did not accept the verdict of the jury, but nonetheless his lawyer, Lloyd Jenkins argued for a suspended prison sentence.

Mr Jenkins said his client was “nothing like his father”.

“He's better than this, and he knows it,” Mr Jenkins said. “His father has always been a bad influence.”

The court heard that McShane had a limited criminal record, unlike his father who “had a fairly long career of burglary.”

Representing, Hawkins, Jason Coulter, accepted that “he faces an immediate custodial sentence.”

Judge Michael Cullum said: “You, Craig McShane, drove your father away and you crashed it.

“The proprietor of the store lived above. She came down and said she was frightened. There was quite significant damage done, but nothing was taken.

“This was clearly planned, and targeted. You were equipped. Relevant clothing was found near you and the car.

“Craig McShane, you are not a man of good character, but you do good work within the community. I have thought long and hard, and I am going to suspend the prison sentence.”

Hawkins was given an immediate three year jail term.

McShane received a 21 month sentence suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete three hundred hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £1,200.