A FARMER and his family apprehended two people involved in an attempted burglary at their property, a court heard.

David Lesley Lavis, 27, and his father David Harold Lavis, 59, appeared for sentencing at Dorchester Crown Court in connection with a break-in at Friar Waddon House, Friar Waddon, near Weymouth.

They had both admitted burglary.

Carolyn Branford-Wood, prosecuting, said Martin Mayo was walking through a courtyard at the farm at around 9.30pm on May 23 when he came across Lavis Jr and another man.

He asked what they were doing and Lavis Jr replied that he was looking for his dog.

Miss Branford-Wood said Lavis Jr was wearing a balaclava and had a pair of bolt croppers in his hand.

Mr Mayo shouted to the farmhouse where his son Luke was and the two intruders began walking away.

Miss Branford-Wood said Luke Mayo gave chase on foot while his father got into his Landrover to intercept them at the road.

She said as the men left the farm the man with Lavis Jr managed to escape.

Miss Branford-Wood said: “The unknown male managed to force his way through a hedge and remains unknown.

“Mr Lavis junior was unsuccessful and went down the road.

“His father was driving a Peugeot estate towards them and by this time Martin Mayo appeared in his Landrover.”

Miss Branford-Wood said Lavis Jr got into the car being driven by his father on the passenger side but Luke Mayo used the opportunity to also get into the car through the door.

She said: “He dived across the man in the car, taking hold of the car keys and takes them out of the ignition.”

Miss Branford-Wood said Luke Mayo then threw the keys away, meaning Lavis Jr and Lavis Snr were unable to get anywhere in the car, and he, his dad Martin and brother Daniel, who by this time had also joined them, detained the pair until police arrived.

She said while Lavis Jr had never previously been before the courts, his father had a history of previous convictions for burglary.

Robert Pawson, mitigating for both defendants, said nothing had actually been taken during the incident and said that neither man had actually been the ring leader of the operation.

Judge Roger Jarvis sentenced Lavis Jr, of Woodsford Road, Crossways, to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered that he carry out 150 hours in the community.

Because of his father’s past record, the judge sentenced Lavis Snr, of St George’s Road, Dorchester, to 12 weeks in custody.

• A BUNGLING burglar pleaded tearfully for his apprehenders to let him go, a farmer said.

The Echo spoke to Martin Mayo and his son Luke, who detained the two would-be thieves.

“It must have been quite scary for him,” said Martin Mayo, 58. “I was extremely hostile when I was chasing him, but then, he was the one with the bolt croppers.”

He added: “They actually seemed quite relieved when the police turned up.”

Mr Mayo, and his son Luke, told how they pursued the pair.

Martin Mayo, a chicken farmer, said: “I was just going to shut the birds up for the night. I saw this bloke in the courtyard in a balaclava. I thought it might have been someone having a joke, so I said ‘good evening’. When he said he was looking for his dog, I knew he was up to no good.”

Mr Mayo alerted his family.

One culprit managed to flee through a hedge while the other, later identified as Lavis Jr, managed to reach the car being driven by his father.

Luke Mayo, 23, pursuing Lavis Jr on foot and jumped in the car with him.

He said: “I had him up against the car, and the bloke inside it opened the door and pulled him in. I launched myself in, leant over and grabbed the keys from the ignition and threw them into a field. Then I jumped out.”

Luke’s brother David was also on scene by this time, with a shotgun the family use to kill vermin.

Luke added: “We had taken the magazine out of the gun, in case they managed to grab hold of it, but they locked themselves in the car and just sat there until police showed up. I think they were glad to be arrested to be honest.

Martin Mayo said the culprits asked the farmers to let them go. He said: “That wasn’t going to happen. The younger guy was in tears and wanted me to let him go.”

A father of three grown-up children, Mr Mayo is concerned that the sentences will not act as a deterrent for others.

“Bring it on,” he said. “I won’t be so nice next time. They won’t be getting a cup of tea, that’s for sure.”