TWO men broke into a community store in the early hours while wearing balaclavas, a jury heard.


Lyam Michael John Bull, aged 23, of Railway Crossing, Bradpole, and Reece Evnez, aged 18, of North Allington, Bridport are on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court in connection with a burglary of The Old Telephone Exchange in Broadwindsor.


The pair admit burgling the store on May 2, 2018 – but deny being in possession of firearms when committing the offence. 


It comes after police discovered two air rifles on the backseat of Evnez's Audi A3, which was parked near the scene.


Bull also denies a charge of possessing a firearm when prohibited from doing so.


Prosecutor Roderick Blain read a witness statement from Richard Jeffery, who lives close to the store.
Mr Jeffery said he woke up at 1.15am, and looked outside his window to see a grey car pull up and two men wearing balaclavas run down the side of the shop and out of his view.
He then heard a window smash and dialled 999.


Police arrived at the scene 10 minutes later and the pair were apprehended.


The jury heard from Detective Constable Lynda Soutine who read an interview with Bull on the morning of his arrest.


Bull told police he was drunk and wanted to steal cigarettes, claiming he had been having difficulty finding work and was in debt.


Bull said the pair had been hunting rabbits in Burton Bradstock earlier that day which is why the air guns were in the car.


However, he claims he did not use the guns in any capacity and only passed a rifle to Evnez, who shot some game that afternoon.


He told the detective: "I have got a firearm ban. I only opened the bag up I didn't use them or anything like that. I got the gun out and handed it to him, that was it."


A statement from Evnez was then read to the court, by Mr Blain.


He accepted he was a trespasser and intended to steal from the store before being detained by police.
In his statement, Evnez said the air guns both belonged to him and they were used for shooting rabbits on private land during the afternoon before the burglary.


He said the joint decision to enter the store was 'stupid' and he apologised for the distress he caused to the store's owners.


However, when later taking the stand, Evnez contradicted his earlier statement when questioned by Jamie Porter, defending for Evnez.


He claimed only one of the air rifles belonged to him, while the other belonged to Bull.


He said the pair had parked at land in Stoke Abbott on the afternoon before the burglary, where they went to hunt rabbits together using the air guns.


He added that when they were inside the store and police arrived, Bull told him to say the rifles belonged to him, which Bull denies.


He said he wasn't aware of Bull's firearm ban at the time and was 'disoriented' and 'confused', which is why he went along with it.


He added: "I know now it's only right to say the truth."


The pair agree the black air rifle was collected from Evnez's home in North Allington that afternoon.


However, Evnez claims the second air rifle was Bull’s which they picked up from his house, while Bull claims the second gun was picked up from Evnez's stepdad's garage.


The trial continues tomorrow.