TWO brothers who went stealing after spending all their benefit cash on presents and Christmas dinner have been jailed by Bolton magistrates.

Prolific offenders Martin and Dean McEvilly, of Crescent Road, Great Lever, pleaded guilty to a series of offences.

Anthony Stanway, prosecuting, told the court that Martin McEvilly, aged 42, was caught on CCTV breaking into the ARC car wash office in Manchester Road on December 22 by smashing a rear window.

He took a laptop, sat nav, camera and cash, together worth £540.

Then, on December 29, the court heard that Martin and 41-year-old Dean McEvilly were walking home after unsuccessfully trying to borrow money from family when they passed the Williams BMW compound in Orlando Street.

They were spotted on CCTV inside the premises and ran off when challenged. A Nissan Navara and a VW Passat both had windows smashed.

Mr Stanway added that 40 minutes later the brothers entered the Glyn Webb store in Manchester Road, setting off the security system and both were arrested by police.

Ann Deakin, defending, said: “They had seen the Glyn Webb door open and thought they may be able to find something they could sell.

“It was opportunistic and not planned, but they have gone back to what they know best, unfortunately.”

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She added that the brothers both have long criminal records, primarily for thefts from non-dwelling premises and have entrenched heroin addictions.

But she stressed that they have remained out of trouble for several months and, for the first time, tested negative for drug use when taken to the police station.

The brothers both pleaded guilty to two counts of interfering with a vehicle with intent to steal and burglary at Glyn Webb. Martin McEvilly also admitted burglary at the car wash.

Martin McEvilly was jailed for 26 weeks and his brother for 14 weeks.

“You have both got horrendous criminal records, but I do note the progress you have made,” magistrates’ chairman Peter Sloan told the brothers.

“But the public does need protection from you, particularly the business community.”