The actions of two community spirited residents who called police on 999 when they believed a house was being broken into has resulted in two men being jailed for a combined total of four years and two months.

Their emergency call sparked a 20-minute police vehicle pursuit through the streets of Wallington and Croydon with the suspects caught after they were spotted hiding in woodland by a police helicopter.

The drama started on Tuesday, January 13 at around 2.50pm when the residents became suspicious of four men walking out of an alleyway and approaching a terraced house in Plough Lane, Wallington. Noises were heard and police were called.

Officers arrived to see four men come out of the address and a pursuit took place which saw two suspects drive away in a Mazda 6 car.

The suspects drove through red lights in Manor Road and Stafford Road before continuing into Woodmansterne Lane and Smitham Bottom Lane - swerving into oncoming traffic and driving at high speed in 20mph areas.

A police helicopter joined the pursuit as the vehicle approached the A23.

Police detained the suspects who were found hiding in woodland near Dean Lane, Merstham. Various items of jewellery were found in the passenger floor well.

At Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, April 9, Richard Lee MacDonald, aged 24 of Twin Oaks, Coggeshall Road, Braintree, was sentenced to two years imprisonment after pleading guilty to burglary.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100. MacDonald was also sentenced to 10 months imprisonment to run consecutively and disqualified from driving for 12 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

Eugene Stephen Lee, aged 23 of The Chase, Rush Green, Romford, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for burglary. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100.