Two violent burglars have been sentenced to a total of nine years in prison after a member of the public filmed them breaking into a flat on her phone.

Billy Hibberd, 24, of Waldstock Road, Thamesmead, and Gary Parks, 25, of Oakhampton Crescent, Welling, were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court.

Unemployed Hibberd received five years and six months in prison while Parks was sentenced to three-and-a-half years.

They both pleaded guilty to burglary and causing actual bodily harm.

On September 23 last year, at around midday, a woman noticed Hibberd and Parks acting suspiciously at the entrance of a block of flats in Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, and decided to film their actions from a distance.

Hibberd was filmed climbing on to a roof area and accessing one of the flats via an open window.

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Police were immediately called to the scene and arrived while the pair were still inside the flat they had broken into.

They knocked on the door but, although they could hear movement inside the flat, received no reply.

Officers from the Met's dog support unit also arrived at the scene and knocked again.

This time the door was opened by a man in his 20s who had sustained facial injuries.

He said he had been assaulted by Parks and Hibberd.

The victim was taken to hospital with injuries which included severe bruising to his face, cuts and a suspected broken rib.

Detectives found a small ventilation system in the property's airing cupboard which was being used to grow a cannabis plant. Officers believe Hibberd and Parks entered the address to steal cannabis.

The woman who had filmed the scene approached officers and provided them with the short video.

The victim was given a cannabis warning.

Detective Constable Brad Clough, from Bexley police, said: "I am satisfied with the result of our investigation and am particularly thankful to the member of the public who filmed Hibberd and Parks and called police.

"Her quick-thinking actions have ensured that we had enough evidence to charge both men and bring them before a court."