THREE members of a gang of burglars were given prison sentences last week for their part in a "terrifying" and "savage" raid in which one of their group was killed by a householder in self-defence, a court has heard.

Dwayne Ayres, 20, from Cricket Hill Lane, Yateley, was stabbed to death when he and his cousin Lucy Ayres, now 29, along with Joseph Hughes, now 18, took part in the burglary of a house in Holt Way, Hook,in November 2008.

At 1.40am on November 2 the gang were let into the house and then caused a scene of "mayhem" during which they hit one of the householders with a sink plunger, threw glasses around and Lucy Ayres brandished a carving knife from the kitchen, Winchester Crown Courtheard.

Defend himself

The court heard that Luke Lang, who lived in the house, took action to defend himself and ended up stabbing Dwayne Ayres, who collapsed in a pool of blood on the driveway and died shortly after.

The court heard the fourth member of the burglary gang, Stuart Young, who is now 22, was waiting in a car nearby and drove the gang with the fatally injured Ayres to Frimley Park Hospital.

Judge Andrew Barnett said the gang had behaved "savagely" and added:  "Those in the house must have been truly terrified. It was quite appalling anti-social behaviour."

Stephen Parish, prosecuting, said: "Much has been said about a householder’s right to defend themselves and nowhere is it brought into sharper focus than in this case."

Judge Barnett jailed Ayres, of Green Springs, Crondall, and Hughes,of Bridge Road, North Warnborough, for three years to run concurrentlyf or the offences of burglary and violent disorder.

The judge gave Young, of Hyde End Road, Shinfield, Berkshire, a one-year jail sentence suspended for two years with 180 hours community service for burglary.

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