A trio who raided a petrol station in Braintree have been jailed.

At Chelmsford Crown Court brothers Christopher McDonald, 25, and Anthony Kiley, 23, were jailed for 15 months after admitting breaking into the Shell petrol station, in London Road, Braintree, on September 6.

Charlotte Stark, 24, of Broadway Court, Silver End, was jailed for three months for her part in the burglary.

Richard Harris, prosecuting, told how they were seen by a member of the public coming out of a broken door window at the garage at 6.30am.

Police were sent to the filling station and tried to catch the trio, who caused £300 of damage at the garage and made off with £200 of cigarettes.

Mr Harris said: "There was a struggle, Kiley and Stark made off and there was a chase. They were found hiding by a hedge and were subsequently detained."

McDonald and Kiley were also given an extra three months in jail to run concurrently after admitting resisting and obstructing a police constable.

Craig Rush, mitigating, said Kiley and McDonald both had "a rather sad childhood".

He added: "What is clear is neither of them were taught right from wrong. For years and years they've found themselves getting into trouble time and time again. With all three, there's a common theme - drug addiction."

He said the burglary was carried out on their way back to Stark's home.

The car broke down and they found themselves walking past the petrol station.

Mr Rush said: "While walking past the petrol station the opportunity was there, and it was taken."

Published Thursday October 31, 2002

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