Three men who committed two burglaries and two robberies in less than two days have been jailed for a total of 30 years.

Their crime spree began on January 28 this year, when a house was burgled in East Farleigh, Maidstone and the homeowner's Saab and its keys were taken.

The car was driven to Cranbrook, where it was used in a second burglary. The offenders dumped a child car seat from the car on the driveway and then stole electrical items and jewellery.

Following the two burglaries, it was then driven to Aylesham, Canterbury, the next day where the trio found their next victim home alone. At around 2pm, the 37-year-old reported seeing three men walking past her window and she went to investigate.

As she opened the door, three men barged past her into her home, and she was grabbed around the throat and threatened with a hammer. Jewellery and cash was also stolen.

A day later, on January 30, another robbery was committed, this time in Folkestone. A 52-year-old woman was threatened with a large kitchen knife and pulled to the floor by her hair, causing some of it to come out. She managed to escape and flagged down a passing motorist. Some of the jewellery that was taken was recovered by officers. A car was also taken.

Having viewed CCTV from the property, detectives from Maidstone police station identified the suspects as 29-year-old Jeremy Waller of Arundel Square, Maidstone; 30-year-old George Dunn of Cranham Square in Marden and Anthony Wood, 28, of no fixed address.

When officers searched Wood’s address, they found identical clothing to the CCTV, and a black woolly hat with two eye holes cut out. He arrived home during the search, and the vehicle he had been dropped off in was found to contain a watch that was stolen from Aylesham.

Following Waller’s arrest, police also found various text messages, including one which said: “I just got a safe full of gold”, and “I got a big load of cash baby.”

All three were charged and in March Wood and Dunn pleaded guilty to the Aylesham robbery. Following a trial, Jeremy Waller was also found guilty of two burglaries, two robberies and two counts of taking a vehicle without consent. He was also found guilty of escaping lawful custody after he made off from officers who arrested him.

On Friday at Canterbury Crown Court, Waller was sentenced to 16 years in prison, Wood to eight and Dunn to six.

Investigating officer, DC Andrew Julier said: "This case involved four quick-fire crimes, committed within two days, with the robbery involving particularly nasty violence against an innocent woman and at one point the offenders threatened to kill her.

"Dunn and Wood pleaded guilty to the offences but Waller opted for a trial, and was found guilty by a jury. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own homes and hopefully all the victims in this case feel safer knowing that the offenders will be in prison for a long time."