TWO men who tried to force their way into a home while a terrified woman hid inside have been jailed.

Ellis De Guzman, 22, of Chester-le-Street, and Michael Turpin, also known as Michael Wake, 26, of nearby Pelton Fell, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary.

Both were sent to prison for four-and-a-half years at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how, while wearing balaclavas, the pair tried to force their way through the front door of a house in Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street in April.

When they were unable to get into the house, they tried to force their way into a rear door as the lone woman inside the house hid, afraid for her life.

Detective constable Michael Orridge, of Durham Constabulary, said: “This was a terrifying incident for the woman who was inside the property at the time.

“She was alone in the house and she believed the men trying to get into her home were going to kill her if they got inside.

“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour on our streets and are working hard with local communities to stamp it out.

“The length of the sentences handed down by the court rightly shows just how seriously offences of this kind are taken.”