Criminals sentenced after 'appalling' Wargrave burglary

Two burglars have been sentenced after ransacking a home and treading dog mess into a carpet.

A Wargrave family were forced to cut short their holiday after the break-in and say they have lived through their worst nightmare.

The family, who asked not to be named, said the raid had left them with psychological scars.

They were speaking after two criminals were sentenced for the break-in.

Burglars smashed inside the Silverdale Road home on October 28, stealing up to £15,000 worth of valuables including family heirlooms and five Second World War medals that belonged to their uncle.

They also stole three guitars, their Ford Mondeo car and irreplaceable jewellery including a gold brooch mined in New Zealand by their grandfather.

Christopher Kupiec, 31, of Hazel Road, Purley, was jailed for two years for burglary at Reading Crown Court on Friday (March 22).

Peter Cripps, 32, of Romsey Road, Tilehurst, was given a one-year community order and three month curfew for handling stolen goods from the raid.

Recorder Nicholas Cole described the burglary as 'appalling' and tantamount to vandalism.

He said: "This is a serious domestic burglary of the kind every home owner dreads."

Speaking after the sentencing the family said it had finally brought them some closure.

A family statement read: "This crime has created a great deal of stress, anxiety and strain within our family.

"We have also lost many irreplaceable valuable family items and suffered financial loss as a result of the crime."

Kupiec and Cripps were arrested travelling in the family's Ford Mondeo on November 6.

Cripps escaped a jail term having already served 107 days on remand but Kupiec had served less than a month on remand before being bailed. Both admitted their charges at a plea hearing on February 4.

Many of the stolen possessions have now been returned to the family, who thanked DC Chris Susel and his team for their 'fantastic' investigation and support.

The war medals were also returned to the family last week after being found at the home of Cripp's brother.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods in relation to this.

Some of the stolen property is still missing including an 18-carat gold ring with sapphires and diamonds.

Kupiec was also jailed for six months - to run consecutively - for the theft of two bronze cannons worth £50,000 from company grounds in Sonning Common in November 2011.