THREE burglars have been jailed for eight years each after occupants of a house in Newbridge were tied up and threatened. 

Simon Collier, aged 20, of Valley View Road, Cwmtillery, and 35-year-old Lee Perry and 41-year-old Yasmin Sheldon, both of Commercial Street, Abertillery, carried out the burglary in December 2014.

All three denied a charge of aggravated burglary, but were found guilty at a trial.

The gun threat proved empty, but a baseball bat was used to smash glass in the front door of the house, in Sunnycrest, Pantside, Newbridge, while Perry at one point produced a machete from a bag.

At the sentencing hearing, Newport Crown Court was told £700 in cash, watches, phones, a Playstation and games were taken.

It was a house from where drugs were dealt and at the time, a man was leaving after buying amphetamines, only to be confronted at the door by Collier, Perry and Sheldon, wearing balaclavas.

He told one of the occupants - who lived at the house with his 75-year-old father - that there were people at the door, one of whom shouted "you know what we're here for, we're coming in." They were told to go away, but instead smashed the front door glass, enabling them to open it, then threatened to shoot one of the occupants.

The two occupants and the man who had been leaving were then tied up by Sheldon, the property searched, and the aforementioned items taken.

Despite Perry trying to disguise his voice, he was recognised by an occupant as someone he once sold drugs to.

After the trio left, the men freed themselves and the police were called. The following month, phones, cable ties, a baseball bat, and balaclavas were found at Collier's home.

The judge, Recorder Robert Craven, was told Collier was of previous clean character. Sheldon had no previous convictions, while Perry had a flytipping conviction from 2013.

Collier was a carer for his father, while Perry and Sheldon were described as hardworking. Testimonials for the latter described her as compassionate, sensitive, and trustworthy.

It was argued in their defence that while the offence was serious, and threats were made, there was no physical violence.

Defence counsel for Perry, Jeremy Jones, said neither occupant had believed the threats, and seemed more annoyed that phones and the Playstation had been taken.

"What was intended was, effectively, to steal drugs. That was the primary purpose," said Mr Jones.

Of the threat to use a shotgun, Mr Jones said the weapon had never existed. It had been an unsuccessful threat "calculated to scare."

Recorder Craven was told the offence was out of character for all three defendants. Sentencing them, he said "Why on earth you all ganged together to commit this offence is virtually inexplicable.

"In the course of one evening you have thrown away the good in your pasts in one go."