TWO young thugs who confessed to a string of offences have been locked up.

Craig Mendrys, 21, and his co-defendant Ross Bruce, 20, robbed a man as he walked through Basildon town centre.

Mendrys – who has previous convictions for robbery, drugs and theft – initially asked the victim for the time before the pair grabbed him.

They pushed him up against a wall, put an arm over his chest and threatened him with a vodka bottle as they stole his wallet and mobile phone.

A few weeks later Mendrys struck again.

This time he broke into his 87-year-old neighbour's home in Bourne Avenue, Basildon, and stole £2,000 worth of goods including a television, jewellery, perfume and cash.

Mendrys was caught out after the terrified victim, who awoke to find him in her room, recognised him and the police caught him nearby.

He was also charged with stealing copper piping ripped out of a flat in Cranes Court, Basildon.

Mendrys pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to handling stolen goods, robbery and burglary and asked for a further 13 offences of burglary and theft to be taken into consideration.

Bruce, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to theft and robbery and asked for a further 26 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

At Basildon Crown Court Judge John Lodge sentenced Mendrys to three years and six weeks in a young offenders institution. Bruce was locked up for two years and 39 weeks in a young offenders institution.

Judge Lodge described the robbery as a “nasty and unpleasant” attack where a bottle was used to get money from the victim.

He also told Mendrys: “The burglary can only be described as despicable. She was 87, she was disabled.

“She was your neighbour and you went into her house to steal from her.

“People in these vulnerable positions need to know from the courts that long sentences will be passed."