A GANG of burglars who led police on a high-speed chase using cars stolen from a family home have been sentenced.

Four men appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday in connection with the raid at a house in Wheatbottom, Crook, County Durham.

A television, mobile phones, a laptop computer, watches, and cameras were among the £6,000 haul, which was loaded into the family's cars in the early hours of January 27.

The alarm was raised when the householders woke to hear the door of their Rover being slammed then driven off.

They realised their house had been ransacked and their 4x4 Mitsubishi Pajero had also been stolen.

Police were called and the cars were spotted on CCTV travelling in convoy with 22-year-old Lee Terrance, of Hillsleigh Road, Cowgate, Newcastle, in his Renault Clio.

Police caught the raiders on the A167 at Chester-le-Street and forced them to stop, but Michael Clamp, 24, of Caroline Street, Benwell, Newcastle, rammed police and sped off.

He drove the wrong way round roundabouts and the wrong way along a dual carriageway on three tyres, reaching speeds of 60mph.

Police eventually stopped the the Rover at the Team Valley Trading Estate and arrested Clamp and Christopher Hearn, 21, of Brighton Close, Wallsend.

Clamp's 27-year-old brother, Paul, of Hillsleigh Road, Cowgate, was driving the Mitsubishi Pajero. He rammed police cars, but crashed shortly afterwards and was arrested.

Chris Williamson, prosecuting, said: "This was very distressing for the family and the police officers, who were made to fear for their own safety."

The Clamp brothers, who both admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, were each jailed for five years and banned from driving for five years.

Richard Bloomfield, for Paul Clamp, said: "He is surrounded by criminality and it is inevitable that he is going to be influenced."

Robin Hatton, acting for Michael Clamp, said: "He knows it was a bad offence and he is going to prison."

Hearn, who admitted vehicle taking and burglary, was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for 12 months.

In mitigation, Paul Cross said: "He regrets being involved in this offence and was out of his league."

Terrance, who admitted burglary, was given a 12-month community order and will have to complete 140 hours of community service.

Anthony Hawks, for Terrance, said: "His car was written off, so it was an expensive night for him."