A LOVE-struck criminal shocked a Hampshire judge by pleading for his jail term to be extended.

Raymond Martin, 38, made the unique request after he and his wife Lucy, 31, admitted involvement in a street robbery.

They were both expecting to be given jail terms at Winchester Crown Court but because Mrs Martin had snatched Georgette Sweet’s handbag, she faced a longer spell inside.

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Jonathan Simpson, representing Mr Martin, said his client had told a probation officer he would re-offend if he were not given a similar length sentence to his wife.

He said: “It’s the case his co-defendant is his wife and that it’s well understood she wears the trousers. He feels he knows what’s best for him. He cannot cope without his wife.”

Turning down the request Judge Keith Cutler said: “I am always one for a true love story but at the same time I don’t think this can be made to have a happy ending.”

He sentenced Mr Martin, who had earlier admitted a handling charge, to a year in jail and his wife, who pleaded guilty to the robbery outside McDonald’s in Winchester last October, 18 months.

Sentencing Mr Martin, he added: “You will be released in advance of your wife. I hope you will have a home for her to go to and will be able to build on your marriage and make something of your future.”

Prosecutor Kerry Maylin had earlier told the court that the drunken husband-and-wife team had befriended their female victim in the fast food restaurant in St George’s Street, shortly before 9pm.

After finishing their food they left the restaurant before Mrs Martin attacked the woman. She threw a punch at her and snatched her handbag, which contained £160, bankcards and a mobile phone.

The duo, who have only been married eight months, then fled the scene. CCTV cameras later caught them staggering along Upper Brook Street with the stolen item, towards North Walls.

The handbag, phone and bankcards were later found behind a property in Upper Brook Street, but £140 was missing.

Police later attended an address in Christchurch Road after reports of an unconnected offence. They spotted the Martins at the address but it was only when they returned to base and saw the camera footage that they identified the duo and arrested them.