A Couple who skipped bail and sent police a saucy holiday postcard from Spain are behind bars.

Childhood sweethearts Victoria Ford, 25, and Glen Mitchell, 26, travelled to Benidorm rather than keep their court date.

When they arrived, they sent a card to police, saying they would rather have "sex on the beach".

But when their money ran out and they were forced to return to Britain, police were waiting to arrest them.

Ford, of Stockton, had been due to appear at Teesside Crown Court to stand trial accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assaulting a police officer.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, told the court in March: "The defendant and her boyfriend have thoughtfully sent a postcard to the police, informing them that they are in Benidorm and intend staying there until their money runs out."

Mr Newcombe passed the postcard, a picture of palm trees and a sunny beach, to Judge Peter Fox, QC, telling the court that the message began: "Hi there. Ronny Biggs here."

It added: "Well, mouth's a bit dry, need sex on the beach."

The message ended with: "Adios, Amigos. See you when we got back to England. Glen and Vicky."

Mr Newcombe said the card followed an earlier phone call made to police by Mitchell.

When the couple were arrested on their return to Britain, Judge Les Spittle remanded them to Stockton's Holme House Prison.

He said: "The sun doesn't shine at Holme House."

Mitchell, of Bishopton Road, Stockton, has been jailed for four years and three months.

Ford has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, by Judge Fox.

Mitchell admitted a catalogue of offences, including handling stolen goods, obtaining property by deception, attempted deception, possession of Ecstasy and heroin, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and possessing an offensive weapon.

Ford was found guilty of assaulting a plain-clothes police officer, causing actual bodily harm.

She admitted possessing Ecstasy with intent to supply.

The court heard that Mitchell had gone with Ford to Spain in the hope of finding work.

When that failed to materialise, the couple returned.

Nigel Soppitt, defending Mitchell, said his offending stemmed from a heroin addiction.

Ford's barrister, Tim Roberts, told the court: "Her problem seems to be the men in her life. She never gets into trouble on her own.