Police say prison sentences totalling eight and a half years imposed on four burglars sends a clear message to people who travel into Cheshire to commit crime.

The men, all from Liverpool, were caught after breaking into houses in Davenham and Lower Peover in September.

Police Officers arrested the men in Pickmere after following the car they were using from Northwich.

Jamie Downes, Shaun Blackburn, Mark Keogh and Thomas Farrell all admitted two charges of a burglary and a charge of receiving the car, which had been stolen from Preston.

Downes, aged 24, from Roughwood Drive, Kirkby, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison; Blackburn, aged 27, from Kenbury Road, Kirkby; Keogh. Aged 22, from Overton Close, Liverpool and Farrell, aged 22, from Whitefield Drive, Kirkby were each sentenced to two years.

“Proceeds of crime” proceedings have begun in respect of £2000 which was seized from the men and a total “criminal proceeds” figure of nearly £20,000 for each of the four has been approved by the court.