Two burglars who stole more than £2,000 worth of cigarettes from newsagents have been locked up.

Trevor Brown, 53, and Robert Downey, 38, were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court last week.

Both pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit burglary.

Brown, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and four months while Downey, of New Road, Chatham, was caged for two years and two months.

They were charged after two burglaries and two attempted burglaries were reported between April 13 and April 29 in Longfield, Chatham and Rochester.

The first burglary and saw cigarettes worth more than £1,500 stolen from a shop in Station Road, Longfield.

Two attempted burglaries took place in Rochester before a newsagent in Chatham High Street had cigarettes worth £1,600 stolen from it early on April 29.

Officers were alerted and arrested the duo close to the scene.

Investigating officer PC Rebecca Howlett said: "Downey and Brown targeted commercial premises in order to steal a large quantity of cigarettes and other items for their own financial gain.

"They didn’t care about the disruption their actions caused to the owners of these businesses and I’m pleased they have been sentenced accordingly."

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