THREE brothers who drove a 4x4 after stealing it from a Maldon home have been sentenced.

Shane Parker, 19, and Wayne Parker, 21, both of Cressing, and Matthew Parker, 26, raided a home on December 8, before stealing a Ford Ranger.

Matthew Bagnell, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court how the homeowner and a neighbour, of Fambridge Road, Maldon, had to get out of the way to avoid the stolen vehicle.

He said: “Just before reaching his home the owner, Mr Seal, sees an open gate into the field and sees a black Volvo V40. He can see three men running away from the direction of the house into the field where the vehicle was parked.

“A neighbour, Mr Kirk, sees some of this and has parked his truck on the farm, leaving it behind. He too sees the males both come together by the Volvo and accuses them of breaking into the shed.

“One of the males has got the bat from the car and swings it at head height shouting ‘I’ll give it to you’. The three males run off, Mr Seals calls the police and Mr Kirk then sees his Ford Ranger, which had been parked, driving out of Bury Farm.

“The car was driving off the farm towards the two men and they got out of the way.”

Matthew and Shane Parker were later arrested at McDonald’s after a member of the public reported seeing them dumping their tops in a bin.

Wayne Parker was arrested at his home in Cressing later that day. Gareth Hughes, mitigating for Matthew and Shane, said Matthew, who has 17 previous offences, had used his time in prison to learn to read and write.

Sentencing, Judge David Turner QC said: “Burgling people’s homes is a miserable crime.

“Often the effects are far in excess of any damage done or property taken.”

All three admitted burglary in February.

Matthew Parker, of Staines-Upon-Thames, was sentenced to 18 months, to serve nine months.

Shane and Wayne Parker, both of Long Green, Cressing, were given an 18-month community order including 150 hours’ unpaid work