THIEVES who twice swiped more than 100 tiles from a Melksham farm were caught on their second attempt, after the farm's owner blocked their escape in his JCB.

Julian Drew, who told the court he had no fixed abode, and Daniel Field, of Bath Road, Melksham, each admitted two counts of theft at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday (Sep 15).

On August 22 the pair drove onto a farm in Melksham and first stole around 106 tiles from Simon Cottle, that were bought to be used as part of the restoration of the farmhouse.

Kate Prince, prosecuting, said Mr Cottle managed to track down the tiles to a reclamation yard and get them back.

But whilst working at the farm on August 23 Mr Cottle noticed that thieves were stealing more tiles and loading them into a Peugeot car. Before the pair could make off he jumped into his JCB and blocked a lane to the main road.

In a victim impact statement Mr Cottle said the farm was “very special to him” and he felt “sick” that someone had been there stealing, adding: “I feel vulnerable and have thought about getting someone to look after the property while I’m away.”

Drew, 28, who was unrepresented, told the court that he didn’t believe they were “causing any harm” and he had seen the tiles there for ten years.

The court heard that Drew had 14 previous theft offences, many from when he was younger.

Field, 21, however, only had one previous conviction, having been sentenced to 16 months for affray, and was released at the start of this year.

Magistrate Simon Browning handed Drew a 12-month community order and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £85 victim surcharge and £50 court costs.

In sentencing Field, Mr Browning ordered him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and complete a 12-month community order, along with paying £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £85.