A COUPLE of burglars who took a dip in a family's garden hot tub before breaking into their home were caught by discarded underwear.

Ashley and Cherie Deakin were asleep at their home in Orchard Drive, Oswaldtwistle, when Thomas Pendlebury, 19, and Glynn Threlfall, 18, had a cheeky soak and then stole £3,500 of possessions.

The incident happened around 1.30am on December 13 and police discovered a trail of wet footprints leading away from the outdoor spa.

Det Sgt Geoff Warbuton of Accrington’s burglary team said there was no forensic evidence, but inquiries around a pair of discarded boxer shorts led them to Pendlebury.

He said: “That was the catalyst to the investigation. Because of the publicity in the Lancashire Telegraph, people were aware of it and we got his name.

“They had dipped into a neighbour’s hot tub one night and then gone in next door’s the next night. His boxers were wet so he left them at the scene of a crime.

“It started off as a wheeze, but burglary is an intrusive crime which left this family distraught.

“None of the stolen property has been returned. We are delighted with the sentence.”

Pendlebury, of Gayle Way, and Threlfall, of Richmond Road, both Accrington, were sentenced for the burglary in which they forced open the back door and stole property including a 42-inch plasma TV, Nintendo Wii console, mobile phones, laptop and wallet.

Threlfall was jailed for two-and-a-half years and Pendlebury was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

Mrs Deakin, 40, who works for Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Blackburn, said: "We were shocked at how cheeky it was.

“It is so unusual having people trying to sneak on to your property to use the hot tub. It is bizarre."