TWO Hereford men were caught handling stolen goods months after being released from prison.

Shane McGinlay, 41, of Golden Post, Hunderton and Steven Thomas, 38, of Roman Road, Holmer were sentenced at Hereford Crown Court after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods.

Gurdeep Garcha, prosecuting, said the victim Kenneth Godbert woke up at his home in Broomy Hill, Hereford at 4.45am on November 28 last year to find he had been burgled.

A mobile telephone, an iPad, silverware, jewellery and bank cards, among other things, were stolen.

Mr Garcha said: "About four hours or so later, at 8.54am that morning, Mr McGinlay attended Hereford Gold in the town centre, while Mr Thomas waited outside the shop."

McGinlay sold items of jewellery and silverware to the shop for £130 in cash and gave his own name and his home address. Police took CCTV from the store and identified McGinlay.

Police found other property which had been stolen during the burglary at McGinlay's address.

When they were arrested Thomas said to McGinlay: "It's just handling. Tell them nothing."

Mr Garcha said McGinlay had an extensive record including offences of dishonesty, handling stolen good and burglaries.

In November 2013 he was sentenced to nine years for burglary with intent to steal. He was released on licence on August 2018, recalled on November 30, and will serve the remainder of his sentence in prison until October 27, 2022.

Thomas also had a similar record and his last offence was on October 10, 2016 where he was sentenced to three and half years for burglary.

He was released on licence on July 10, 2018, recalled on November 30 and will serve the remainder of that sentence in prison until April 10, 2020.

In McGinlay's defence, his lawyer said he had spent a significant amount of time in custody and McGinlay was concerned he had become institutionalised.

He said he came out of prison last year and did not get any support or guidance and was unable to find work. He said he did not know the goods came from the burglary.

In Thomas' defence, his lawyer said Thomas is extremely remorseful and had no knowledge of the burglary. The court heard his previous convictions were linked with drugs but he had not taken drugs since last July.

Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC said: "Any sentence I impose today has to run from today which is unlikely to result in any increase in time in custody."

They were both given 20 months in prison, to run concurrently with their other sentence. They also have to pay a £140 victim surcharge.