Harrowing CCTV footage has captured the moment masked burglars attacked an elderly woman as she put the bins out.

Three men were jailed at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday for their role in the aggravated burglary that left an elderly man with a black eye.

Video captured the moment the woman stepped outside to take rubbish to the bins, only for a masked man to appear seconds later, pulling her to the ground and dragging her inside.

He was followed into the property by other intruders, all dressed in dark clothing. Once inside the home, one of the men tried unsuccessfully to remove the rings from the woman’s fingers.

Another attacker found her husband in a separate room and sprayed tear gas into his eyes.

The man was beaten and forced to hand over the watch he was wearing. The burglars then searched the property, stealing a selection of watches and jewellery.

Just four minutes after arriving, the gang left, locking the couple inside their home and taking their mobile phones to prevent them from calling for help.

They escaped in a stolen car displaying false number plates. Police found the vehicle the following day.

The ringleader, Jesse Eastwood, spent nearly a year planning the raid and recruiting others to help him, police said.

A Kent Police investigation provided evidence he had been gathering information about the victims and their home for months.

During regular calls to a prisoner he knew, Eastwood discussed his plans, including descriptions of the couple, the layout of their house, the watches he wanted to steal and how he intended to carry out the burglary.

After the raid, he reported back on what had happened, describing the experience as a ‘horror story’ and discussing the assaults on the victims.

The second burglar, Thomas O’Sullivan, had known the couple through the kindness they had previously shown him and had even been on holidays with them.

While living with the victims, he provided Eastwood with information that helped him plan the theft, police said.

Forensic testing on a jewellery box belonging to the couple led investigators to identify the third offender, Christoper David.

All three men were arrested and charged with aggravated burglary at the beginning of February.

Eastwood, 34, of Perry Hall Road, Orpington, was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison.

The other two men, O’Sullivan, 27, of Yalding Hill, Maidstone, and David, 41, of Downham Way, Bromley, were also jailed.

O’Sullivan received two years and five months, while David was sentenced to six years and nine months.

Detective Aaron Chapman said: ‘The victims have remained courageous and steadfast throughout the investigation despite what they were forced to go through at the hands of their attackers.

‘We thank them for their support of the case and hope the result will bring them peace and reassurance.’

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