THOUSANDS of pounds worth of meat stolen in a night raid on a New Forest business had to be thrown away after it had become contaminated.

A neighbour, alerted by his dog barking, contacted the police who were on their way to the scene of the break-in at the Beaulieu Organic Farm Shop in Brockenhurst when the culprits drove past.

However the car crashed shortly afterwards at the Portmore junction, near Lymington, where officers found meat strewn on the side of the road.

Prosecutor Megan Toplis told Southampton Crown Court that officers found other meat in the footwell and rear of the vehicle, which they discovered, through a registration number check, belonged to Jennifer Wheatley.

Wheatley, 29, of Samber Close, Lymington; Dean Lamb, 20, of Fry Close, Fawley and James Nicholson, 23, of Cedar Close, Netley View Estate, Hythe, admitted breaking into the shop and stealing meat valued in excess of £3,000.

Lamb, who further admitted stealing an iPod from a man asleep on a park bench, was jailed for 14 months, and Nicholson for eight months. Both were said to have had 14 previous convictions.

Wheatley, of previous good character, received 18 months’ supervision with an order to do 200 hours’ community service