TWO burglars who armed themselves with knives to steal from a family home have had their prison sentences increased on appeal.

Darren Cessford and Jay Maxwell broke into a family's home in Brentwood on July 8 last year with the intention of stealing their possessions.

The family, including a two-year-old child, was at home at the time of the break-in, and upon hearing unexpected footsteps the father went to investigate.

He discovered Cessford rifling through drawers in a bedroom and saw that he was carrying a knife.

Cessford’s accomplice Jay Maxwell was in a nearby room.

The father quickly called the police and Cessford and Maxwell ran away, but not before stealing a large amount of jewellery including wedding and engagement rings.

In March this year at Basildon Crown Court, Cessford and Maxwell were sentenced to three years in prison and 21 months in a Youth Offender Institution respectively.

But the Court of Appeal has reviewed the sentence after a referral by the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, who asserted the original punishment was unduly lenient.

Today, the Court of Appeal increased their sentences to four-and-a-half years in prison and two years and nine months in a Youth Offender Institution respectively.

Mr Wright said: “Burglaries can have a long lasting impact on victims. Not only do people have to deal with the financial implications of their possessions being stolen, they may never recover sentimental items and can often feel unsafe in their own homes for months to come.

"I thought the original sentences did not reflect the seriousness of the offending and I’m pleased the Court of Appeal has increased them.”