THREE debt-ridden Basingstoke men, who attempted to steal nearly £50,000 worth of golfing equipment by raiding several clubs, have received lengthy prison sentences.

Stuart Mackintosh, 32, of Breadels Field, Kempshott Park, Christopher Matthews, 21, of Lehar Close, Brighton Hill, and Jason Simpkins, 32, of Mozart Close, Brighton Hill, were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment for conspiracy to burgle.

Simpkins was also given a four-month sentence, to run consecutively, for handling stolen goods.

Winchester Crown Court heard the trio had planned and executed a series of raids on golf clubs in Hampshire and Surrey over a 10-day period last June and July.

Adam Hiddleston, prosecuting, said: "The burglaries were particularly well-planned. They were committed using expertise, and masks were worn. Items were also stolen to assist in the burglaries themselves."

Mr Hiddleston said the first burglary took place at Bramley Golf Club in Surrey on June 26 at 1.50am. He told how the trio forced their way into the building and loaded golf clubs and bags worth £18,300 into a blue Peugeot car they had recently bought. However, police arrived and the gang fled, leaving all their booty and their car.

CCTV footage revealed three men were involved in the raid, but all were wearing home-made head coverings to protect their faces.

The next burglary took place on July 3. Hampshire Bolt and Tool Supplies on Daneshill Industrial Estate, Basingstoke, was broken into at 12.40am and a wrench and mesh cutter were stolen.

Mr Hiddleston said these items were used less than an hour later when the trio broke into Hockley Golf Club near Winchester. Equipment worth £4,000 was stolen in this raid.

The court was told the trio were caught after raiding Blackmoor Golf Club in Bordon on July 5. Mackintosh, Matthews and Simpkins had loaded £20,500 of equipment into their car when police officers arrived and blocked their exit. Although the men fled, they were quickly caught.

The police later discovered a stolen digital camera and digital video camera at Simpkins' house.

Mr Hiddleston said the trio - who all admitted conspiracy to burgle - had also raided Oak Park Golf Club in Crondall. He added Mackintosh sold some of the golf clubs taken in the raids on the internet.

In mitigation, the court heard all three men had families to support and financial problems at the time of the raids. Robert Bolton, defending Simpkins, said his client had encountered financial difficulties following the collapse of his Basingstoke computer business.

"He was at his wit's end," said Mr Bolton. "He had massive debts."

Mackintosh was also involved in the same business, said his counsel Simon Hamilton. He added his client had run up debts of around £70,000 and said the business had failed due to the arrival of PC World in Basingstoke.

"He did not know what to do and turned to crime," said Mr Hamilton.

Adam Feest, defending Matthews, said his client was an impressionable young man who was also struggling financially and had a young family to support.

Sentencing the trio, Recorder Timothy Lamb QC said: "The offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.

"These were not opportunistic burglaries. There was a degree of planning.

"There was a certain amount of equipment used. There were signs of sophistication. The Brinks-Mat armed robbery it was not, but it wasn't opportunism.

"The effect will bear heavily on the families and partners of each of you. Nonetheless, only a custodial sentence can follow."

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Martyn Lillywhite, of Basingstoke CID, told The Gazette: "The fact people have no money does not mitigate for such crimes."