TWO men have been jailed for a burglary in Orpington during which a female police officer was hit over the head.

The officer required hospital treatment after she received a nasty injury to the back of the head as she tried to arrest the men inside a house in St Pauls Wood Hill.

Ross Eaglestone, aged 24, of Chaucer Way, Dartford, pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of heroin and was sentenced to 29 months in prison, while a charge of common assault was ordered to remain on file.

Riley Scamp, aged 19, of Green Street Green Road, Dartford, pleaded guilty to burglary and going equipped and was sentenced to six months’ detention in a young offender institution.

Scamp received a further two months for an offence of driving while disqualified, originally issued as a suspended sentence by North Kent Youth Court in April last year.

Both were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court.

Officers from Cray Valley West Safer Neighbourhood Team were called to the house at 11.30pm on December 6 last year after reports of men acting suspiciously in the area.

When they arrived the officers saw a bin leaning up against a gate at the side of a house and saw two suspects inside.

As the suspects attempted to escape the female officer was assaulted.

Scamp was detained at the scene while, despite her injury, the female officer chased after the other suspect and was able to give a good description, leading to Eaglestone's capture while hiding in a nearby garden.