TWO “experienced burglars” have been imprisoned following a string of offences across Dorset.

In one of the crimes, the offender was shot with a paintball gun by a resident.

Darren Reed, aged 51, of Khartoum Road and Adrian Dalley, aged 50, of Holzwickede Court, both in Weymouth, admitted offences theft and burglary at Dorchester Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Adam Norris, said there was a “run of offences” by both defendants who “targeted isolated areas to steal from”.

Reed was charged with theft of a bicycle relating to an incident overnight on June 10, 2015 in Osmington. Mr Norris said Reed attempted to steal two bikes attacked to a bike rack on a vehicle parked in a driveway. The victim checked on the bikes at night but discovered they had been taken the following morning. One was dumped on the driveway and the other, worth about £2,000, had been stolen.

Mr Norris said: “When attempting to steal the bikes the perpetrator had cut themselves, leaving blood on the driveway. The DNA matched Reed’s.”

Overnight on June 26, 2015 alcohol worth about £1,700 was stolen by Reed from an outbuilding of Chilcombe House. On July 18 2015, both Reed and Dalley stole alcohol from a shed attached to a cottage. On the same evening Reed burgled the cottage, stealing a jewellery box from a bedroom.

On July 19 police attended and discovered Reed’s car nearby. Arriving later Reed told officers his car had broken down the night before and denied any involvement in the burglary. The DNA on empty alcohol bottles found nearby matched Dalley’s.

Continuing, Mr Norris said in July last year a homeowner at a farm noticed meat going missing from her garage so installed CCTV. On three occasions in August and September Dalley entered the garage in early hours and stole about £2,500 worth of meat, using a pop-up tent to try to conceal his identity.

On September 4, Dalley broke into the Old Rectory on Lorton Lane in Weymouth, disturbing the homeowners who then shot him with a paintball gun as he ran away. Arrested two weeks later, Dalley still had a bruise on his arm from where he had been hit.

Both Reed and Dalley were in breach of suspended sentences.

Representing Reed, Jamie Porter, said: “He understands he will be getting a custodial sentence.”

Representing Dalley, Samuel Burrett, said: “Since his last offence he has shown real determination to take serious steps to address his offending behaviour.”

Recorder Peter Clarkson QC, said: “I see you both as experience burglars and you have been very busy burglars.”

Reed was jailed for two years and nine months while Dalley was jailed for two years and four months.