Four years for burglars who were shot

Two burglars who were shot by a homeowner were jailed for four years each yesterday after a judge rejected a plea that he take the shooting into account and give them lighter sentences.

Joshua O'Gorman, 27, was shot in the face and Daniel Mansell, 33, in the hand by Andy Ferrie as they attempted to ransack his isolated farm cottage in the early hours of 2 September. Mr Ferrie and his wife were held by police for two days before being released without charge. The burglars, both from Leicester, who had a string of convictions, had pleaded guilty to the break-in at Welby, near Melton Mowbray.

Sentencing them at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "If you burgle a house in the country where the householder owns a legally-held shotgun, that is the chance you take. You cannot come to court and ask for a lighter sentence because of it."