TWO burglars who were caught “red-handed” hiding under a bed have been jailed for a total of nine-and-a-half years.

Mark Barrett, 37, and Lewis Richards, 21, broke into a house in Warwick Road, Rayleigh, in the early hours of the morning.

They had earlier been spotted driving slowly down the street by two neighbours - who happened to be married off-duty police officers.

They called for back-up and the house - home to a 72-year-old - was quickly surrounded.

Marc Brown, prosecuting, told Basildon Crown Court: “The victim got up to see a police officer outside who shouted up to say: ‘Stay where you are, there are men in your house.’

“The police found these defendants hiding under the bed in an upstairs bedroom. I can’t say anything was taken because they were caught red-handed.”

The court heard the men only broke into the house at 5.15am on April 4 because they had been disturbed just moments earlier while burgling another property in Bull Lane, Rayleigh.

The homeowners shouted at the pair to “get out” after being woken by a bang.

Both men admitted the offences.

Barrett, of no fixed address, also admitted possession of a lock knife in Southchurch Road, Southend, on February 3.

The pair appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday alongside Bobby Beresford, 29, of Park Avenue, Canvey.

Beresford and Barrett admitted four further charges of handling stolen good in relation to the theft of two cars, a handbag and car keys from Braintree and Galleywood in 2015.

Both vehicles were recovered on Canvey after passing through automatic number plate recognition cameras.

The court heard Barrett has 19 convictions for similar offences.

Diana Piggott, mitigating, said he is taking steps to tackle his alcohol and drugs problems.

Sentencing Barrett and Richards, of Pantile Avenue, Southend, Judge Samantha Leigh said: “These were two ‘creeper’ offences where the occupants were at home.

“You were only caught because two off-duty police officers saw suspicious behaviour.

“You may not have known the victim was elderly at the time but you know it would have had a significant effect on her if you had come face-to-face.”

Barratt was sentenced to six years in prison in total, while Lewis was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Beresford was given a two year sentence, suspended for two years, with 160 hours unpaid work.

He was told to pay £500 compensation to the BMW owner.