A FAMILY has been left traumatised after they were confronted by pair of balaclava-clad burglars who were ransacking their home.

Jack Brannigan and Dale Linford smashed their way into the Saltburn home in the early hours of the morning before searching rooms using a torch and stealing jewellery, cash and electrical gadgets.

The pair woke up the homeowner and her teenage daughter when they entered their rooms while wearing balaclavas over their faces.

In a victim impact statement the single mother-of-two said her family's sense of safety had been ripped apart by the burglars and her daughter was now too scared to live in the family home.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that the pair were chased from the home by the family's pet dog before being arrested by police at around 4am on June 6 this year.

In a passionate victim personal statement, the victim said the burglary had left the family 'traumatised' and had resulted in her putting the family home up for sale.

She said: "Waking up and seeing someone in your house with a balaclava on is the most traumatic thing that I have ever been through."

Brannigan, 20, of Ruby Street, Saltburn, and 29-year-old Linford, of Robinson Street, Loftus, both pleaded guilty to burglary.

In mitigation for Brannigan, John Nixon said his client had admitted the offence at the earliest opportunity and apologised to his victims.

And Paul Green, for Linford, said his client had expressed remorse for his actions.

Judge Jonathan Carroll jailed Brannigan for 28 months and Linford for 34 months and issued them with a 15 year restraining order to stay away from the victim.

He said the burglary had a devastating impact on the family, adding: "The affect of all of this is that daughter simply doesn't feel like she can live in the house. The house has been put up for sale so that the family can try to find safety and security somewhere else."