TWO burglars are behind bars after a business owner was forced to declare herself bankrupt following a devastating raid at her fledgling firm.

The boss of Retro Replay in Darlington could not cope with the loss of more than £2,000 worth of jewellery from the shop on High Northgate in September.

In a statement, the shattered retailer said the break-in has left her feeling all of her hard work over the last two years has been a waste of time.

Craig Thackray and Jay Thompson - both with lengthy records - were jailed at Teesside Crown Court after a judge heard of the impact on the shop.

Thackray, who lived doors away on High Northgate, was locked up for 27 months, and Thompson, of Westbrook Terrace, Darlington, was given 20 months.

Judge Peter Bowers told them that their pre-sentence reports from probation officers made "dismal reading" and said: "You wanted money for drugs."

He added: "You really had no thought for what the shop owner would suffer.

"The amount that was taken may not seem a lot, but what you did was almost the last straw for a business that was struggling to keep afloat.

"The victims feel vulnerable and they don't have any confidence for the future."

The court heard that closed circuit television cameras picked up three people in the back yard, trying to kick their way through a shop door at 4am.

The burglars attempted a different route in and were successful, said prosecutor Ian Mullarkey.

Thompson took items from the jewellery display while a red cash till and a guitar case were also stolen, before the trio left 20 minutes later.

Another shopkeeper contacted police when he saw the raiders, and Thackray and Thompson were caught - but the third got away.

When they were arrested, Thompson tried to hide a gold ring in his mouth, and stashed a knife and other jewels in the back of a police car.

The pair denied carrying out the raid until scientific tests showed foot marks on the shop door provided a match for the trainers they were wearing.

Carl Swift, for Thackray, said he had "used and abused" drugs since he was 13, and the only way he can fund his habit is "by stealing or burgling".

Mr Swift said: "Until that is addressed, it is highly likely offending will continue. There is very little the Probation Service can do to assist."

Stephen Andrews, for Thompson, told the court that his decision to live independently as a teenager left him in the clutches of active criminals.

"He is open to suggestion, and doesn't think clearly about things," said Mr Andrews. "He lacks the courage and fibre to say no in such circumstances."

Speaking after the sentence, the owners of Retro Replay, Charlie and Denise Cornforth, said they were bouncing back after the burglary.

“You have got to take it on the chin and carry on,” said Mr Cornforth.

“Because of what happened, it does put you more on guard and she (Denise) hates being here by herself now.

“I’m glad they got jail time, but I don’t know how much of a deterrent it actually is these days.”