BROTHERS took their grandmother’s yellow duster as their broke into a Wroughton home.

The pair said they were under the influence of cannabis when they attempted to burgle the five bedroomed detached house in June.

Former traffic warden Ashley Davies, 25, who has previous burglary convictions, was given a two-year prison sentence. Younger brother Ewan, 18, a college student with hopes of joining the armed forces, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

The brothers, both of Wroughton, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary when they appeared before Swindon Crown Court on Friday. Ashley also admitted possessing cannabis.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said the brothers came away empty handed. But she described the attempted burglary as truly terrifying for the sleeping family, who were woken by a loud banging as the brothers forced their way into the home through a window. They discovered the lights had been disconnected.

“What is I think quite a frightening aspect of this burglary is that the electricity had been cut at the main fuse box,” said Miss Squire. “It’s an obvious inference that that was cut so the CCTV could not record.”

The brothers fled the house empty handed after the husband shouted out. However, they were picked up by police later that night.

Teen Ewan was found with a multi-tool, used to cut away the silicon sealant in a bid to force a window open. Older brother Ashley was found with a yellow duster and gloves, which lawyers believe was taken to remove fingerprints.

“He said he’d taken it from his nan’s and he did not quite know why he had a duster at three o’clock in the morning,” added Miss Squire.

Emma Handslip, acting for Ashley Davies, said he had returned to Swindon recently after a two-and-a-half year relationship had broken down. The former traffic warden, who had been living in Gloucester, was barred from the birth of his baby daughter.

“He has come back to the area and slipped into using cannabis,” she added. Ashley fully acknowledged his role in the attempted burglary: “He quite clearly isn’t [denying involvement]. He accepts what he’s done.”

Richard Williams, for Ewan Davies, said the young lad was studying a public services course at college with a view to joining the armed forces: “He is a young man with promise. He has made a bad mistake.”

Aside from a caution for possession of cannabis, Ewan has a clean record. Mr Williams said: “He has certainly in my view understood the error of his ways and indicated to me he understands he has made a very bad mistake and he has tried to empathise with the victims of this case.”

Judge Jason Taylor QC sympathised with the homeowners: “This must have been a terrifying ordeal.”

Ashley was jailed for two years. Ewan received a 16-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work and must complete 25 rehabilitation activity days.