TWO men who threatened a Warrington woman with a hammer in her own home in a bid to steal puppies following a dispute have both been jailed.
Shane Gabriel, 33, (pictured top left) of Quarry Street, Padiham and Ryan Williamson, 40, of Dorset Street, Burnley appeared at Chester Crown Court on 23 June and admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and affray.
They were both sentenced to 40 months in prison and were also handed a restraining order banning them from contacting the victim.
At around 10pm on 4 September 2019 the two men forced their way into an address in Fearnhead and threatened the victim with a hammer in an attempt to steal a litter of puppies. They searched the house disturbing her children, and after failing to find the puppies, fled the scene.
DC Tom Ashton said: “The two men terrified the woman and her children that evening and they are still coming to terms with their ordeal. What started as a civil dispute between two people ended up escalating to a family being traumatised, people breaking the law and subsequently being jailed. I hope this highlights that we will do everything we can to bring to justice those who break the law and makes people think of the consequences before they act.
“Thankfully the puppies weren’t stolen and the family can now hopefully move on in some way now that these men are behind bars for their shocking actions.”
