TWO teenagers targeted the homes of sick, elderly and disabled residents by smashing into key safes and then using the door keys to access the properties.

Andrew Redknapp and Brandon Howells worked together to commit a spree of burglaries across Southampton and Hedge End.

While Howells kept lookout, Redknapp would smash his way into key safes, take the key and then use it to access to properties – many of which were occupied at the time by sleeping residents.

Many of the victims were disabled, sick or elderly and used the key safes to allow emergency services, carers or family members easy access to their property.

In total, the pair burgled seven homes together over a month long spree, while Redknapp targeted a further 12 properties.

Now the pair have been jailed for a combined 13 years during their sentencing at Southampton Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how the pair began their spree in November 2018.

Homes is Ludlow Road, Middle Road and Rosomon Road, all in the Itchen area of the city, were targeted.

Other Southampton properties in Alfriston Gardens, Cleethorpes Road, Shelley Road, Sedgewick Road were also targeted in November, as was a home in Watson Court, Hedge End.

Homes in Bitterne Road East, Gort Crescent, Sheridan Close, Holcroft Road and Vaughn Close were all targeted in December.

In some cases, no access was gained to the property while Howells admitted to playing a part in just seven successful raids.

Prosecutor Dan Saywer said the majority of burglaries took place while the homeowners were asleep.

He said many of the victims were either elderly, sick or disabled.

Mr Saywer also told the court that after one of the burglaries, in November, Redknapp texted his girlfriend boasting about his actions.

He said: “He told her that he had just ‘robbed an old lady’ last night.

“She said it was not big or funny, but he said it was ‘kind of funny, not going to lie’.”

Mr Saywer said the pair were later involved in a dangerous driving incident, on November 6, in a Ford Fiesta stolen during one of their raids.

The five mile chase saw Redknapp driving at speeds of 110mph on the M27, before speeding through central Southampton.

Redknapp, who was a teenager at the time of the offences, but now 20, of Mount Road, Thatcham, was jailed for eight years after he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to burgle charge relating to 12 properties in Southampton and one in Hedge End.

He also admitted six burglaries in Southampton and also pleaded guilty to charges of theft of motorcycle, fraud by false representation, possession of articles for use in fraud, two charges of theft of bicycle from Swanwick and Eastleigh train stations, five charges of theft of motor vehicles and a dangerous driving charge which he committed whilst driving a stolen vehicle.

Howells, 19, of Belmont Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary relating to six homes in Southampton and one in Hedge End, plus allowing himself to be carried in a motor vehicle taken without the owner’s consent.

He was jailed five years by Judge Nicholas Rowland, who described the pair’s offending as “grave”.