A daring smash-and-grab raid on a jewellery shop ended disastrously when one of the trio of burglars involved ran off - then collided with a street sign.

The criminal trio - Daniel Shaw, 20, Mark Wallace, 26, and 22-year-old Jordan Nolan - were all caught in less than half an hour.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that one of the raiders used a claw hammer to smash his way through the shop’s window.

The gang stole jewellery worth an estimated £12,000, the court heard.

All three admitted burglary.

Chris Richards, prosecuting, outlined how the three smashed their way into the Peter Fletcher jewellery shop in Carlisle's Scotch Street in broad daylight on March 31 last year.

Eyewitnesses had clearly seen them earlier loitering in the area, each wearing ski-style jackets with hoods covering their faces.

One of the three had an orange bag.At one stage, that man produced a claw hammer from the bad, said the prosecutor.

"He used it to smash his way through the large front window of the jewellers," said Mr Richards.

"He and the other men then leaned through the [broken] window to grab handfuls of jewellery."

The raid lasted only seconds and throughout it the shop's owner was inside.

Mr Richards continued: "There is evidence from witnesses who saw the aftermath of the burglary. Retired police officer John Shaw saw the men concerned running away."

Another witness saw one of the trio - later identified as Shaw- racing past and colliding with a metal street-sign pole.

He fell over, suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Police quickly arrested all three burglars.

Near Thirlwall Gardens in the city a police search dog recovered a black gloves contaminated with glass fragments; and a bandana, wrapped around some of the stolen jewellery.

This included gold jewellery - a ring, pendant, necklace and bracelet. All had been taken in the burglary. The damage to the shop window cost £2,375 to repair.

The value of the jewellery that was not recovered was put at £8,638.

Mr Fletcher later spoke of his shock - and his anger, saying the raid had a significant impact on his business.

One of the items stolen was his wife’s original wedding ring, inscribed with the couple’s initials and the date of their wedding.

Paul Tweddle, for Shaw, of Merith Avenue, Botcherby, said his client had sustained a dislocated shoulder when he collided with the metal post and fell over as he fled.Shaw was caught just 24 minutes after the raid, said the lawyer.

Mr Tweddle described the raid as "unsophisticated."

A veteran of the care system, Shaw did not want to continue going into prison, said Mr Tweddle.

The defendant was given 20 months in a young offenders institution.

Mark Shepherd, for Nolan, of Durranhill Road, Carlisle, said that on the day in question his client had taken valium.

"When he witnessed his own actions on the CCTV he was filled with revulsion and disgust," said the lawyer.

"He wants to personally apologise to the victim.”

Nolan was given a suspended 16 month jail term.He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, observe a six month 8pm to 6am tagged curfew, and complete 30 days of rehabilitation.

He must also pay his victim £125 compensation.

Rachel Faux, for Wallace, of Borland Avenue, Botcherby, said he had shown genuine remorse for the offence.

His sentence was identical to that imposed on Nolan.