TWO men have been sentenced for burglary and handling stolen goods after they were found cutting up cable in a field by police.

Thomas Jackson, 21, and Tyla Day, 19, were found by police officers in a field cutting up cable.

The cable was later found to have been stolen during a burglary in Tendring village a week earlier.

A motorbike seen near to them was also found to have been stolen from Mistley in a previous burglary, which happened the day before the pair were found by police.

After a police investigation Day was also linked to being in possession of various items stolen from a burglary in Wix which had taken place a fortnight earlier.

Both Day, of Hamilton Street, Parkeston, and Jackson, of Harcourt Avenue, Dovercourt, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court to be sentenced for their crimes which they had admitted.

Day was sentenced to nine months in a Youth Offenders’s Institution for the burglary in Wix, two months for the burglary in Tendring village and two months for the burglary in Mistley.

The sentences are to run at the same time. He was also ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

Jackson admitted handling stolen goods and was sentenced to 18 months’ community service and 80 hours of unpaid work, and must pay a victim surcharge of £85.

The judge said Day was “leading a life as a professional criminal” and acknowledged the “dreadful effect” the crime had had on one of the victims. Sgt Terry Jacobs, from Harwich local policing team, said: “This was an in depth meticulous investigation which pieced together small bits of evidence to prove the case against Day and Jackson. “Day is a prolific offender and I hope this sentence serves as a reminder we will relentlessly pursue those involved in burglary.”