THREE ham-fisted burglars were found hiding in a dales town after breaking into a supermarket in the early hours of Valentine’s Day.

Mark Riddell, Christopher Dent and Keith Johnson forced their way into the Co-op in Stanhope, Weardale, County Durham, by pushing, shoving and kicking open the doors.

Durham Crown Court heard they ransacked the till area, taking cigarettes, gaming cards and alcohol.

Staff were alerted at home that the store alarm was activating, while police were called about suspicious activity in the town at about 1.30am on February 14.

A search was carried out, including the use of a police helicopter, and all three were found, one hiding behind a car, another down an alleyway and the third who was lying face-down in the street.

Jane Mitford, prosecuting, said a large bag was recovered in the vicinity containing £5,219 worth of goods from the Co-op, which remained closed for repairs the following day.

Miss Mitford said footprint lifts from the premises matched footwear worn by the arrested trio, who are all from Sunderland.

Asked what they were doing in Weardale, they made no reply.

But Riddell, 31, of Felstead Square, Dent, 26, of St John’s Vale, and 30-yearold Johnson, of St Luke’s Road, each admitted burglary at an earlier court appearance.

Jailing each for 60 weeks, Recorder Ray Singh also added an extra 48 weeks to the sentence of Riddell, for breaching a previous suspended sentence, and other offences of theft, being in an enclosed area and breach of a nonmolestation order.