A GANG of Romanian burglars who targeted homes in Worcestershire are now in prison and will be deported when they have served their sentences.

The three, who are all related, were living at an address in Perrott Street, Birmingham, and one had only been in the country for three days before joining in the raids.

Adrian Voinescu, aged 24, his brother Gheoghe Iamandita, 30, and cousin Constantin Lupu, 24, pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court to burglary. They were each jailed for 14 months.

Prosecutor Michael Conry said their first raid was on the home of Maureen O'Reilly in Watling Road, Barnt Green, on July 11. Soon after the occupant had left, they entered the house through a rear patio door which had accidentally been left insecure. The intruders took a £500 iPhone before fleeing when the alarm went off.

Their next target was a cottage in Spetchley Road, Worcester, where Mrs Judith Hall was out for the day. Mr Conry said access was gained through a side window and a thorough search was made of the property. Items stolen included a jewellery box, £200 in cash, a sat-nav and three computer lap-tops with a total value of £2,000.

Police stopped the burglars' car later that day at Hanbury and recovered the stolen property. The driver claimed it had been left behind by someone who had been given a lift but he was not believed.

James Burke, for the accused, pointed out that the raids had been carried out in daylight when the homes were unoccupied. There had been no forced entry and all the goods had been recovered. Early guilty pleas had been entered.

Iamandita had a partner in Romania and had been in the UK since 2009 struggling to find work. Voinescu was married with a son and had been in the UK for two months. He had obtained factory work which had not been well-paid.

Lupu, submitted Mr Burke, had played a minor part in the burglaries as he had only been in the country for three days and had no National Insurance number. His cousins had obtained certificates for English and maths whilst on remand in prison.

Judge Michael Cullum said the raids were a joint enterprise by a gang in need of money but it would have a long-term effect on people whose homes had been violated.

He ordered that the three should serve half their sentence before release and then be deported.