Four men who were part of a terrifying burglary "campaign" that targeted Cumbria's Honister Slate Mine and its owner have been jailed.

Carlisle Crown Court heard today about the devastating impact of the crimes, which included a burglary at the remote home of the mine's owner and three raids on the mine.

All were committed last December.

The family whose home was targeted were also the victim of an earlier burglary, when a hammer-wielding thug threatened the woman who lives in the remote house.

Nobody has yet been prosecuted for that crime but a judge today imposed long jail terms on the four people responsible for the other burglaries.

Tim Evans, prosecuting, outlined how jewellery and £10,000 in cash was stolen during the house burglary on November 22.

In the first late mine raid, the safe was broken into and cash and electricity cards were stolen.

Carl Nicholson, 26, of St Nicholas Avenue, Flimby, admitted one dwelling house burglary, and one burglary at the slate mine.

Samuel Wallace, 29, of Moss Bay Road, Workington, admitted taking part in the house burglary with Nicholson.

Nathan Dryden, 24, of Castlerigg Close, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to the three commercial burglaries at the slate mine.

Lewis Smith, 22, of Latrigg Road, Mirehouse, Whitehaven, admitted one burglary at the slate mine on December 31 last year.

Rob Dudley, for Nicholson, said his contact at the slate mine was his current partner who worked at the owner's house as a cleaner.

The last burglary on his criminal record was committed when he was only 14, said the barrister.

Judge James Adkin imposed a total jail term of five years and eight months.

Nick Cockerell, for Wallace, said the defendant was remorseful and that for the first time in a considerable period, he was clean of drugs.

A man with 21 previous offences on his criminal record, he was jailed for three years.

Kim Whittlestone, for Dryden, said he had been put under duress to join the burglaries.

He claimed that Nicholson had threatened him, and the he was told that a £200 debt he owed was going to be raised by £10 per day.

A man of previous good character, he had a good job at a local supermarket, and had been due to take on a management role.

He was also a part-time football player with Workington Reds, occasionally playing for the club's first team.

"He is remorseful, and genuinely remorseful, for his involvement," said the barrister.

Judge James Adkin jailed him for 27 months.

Marion Weir, for Smith, said that his involvement had been out of character and that he had no previous convictions.

"He is genuinely remorseful," she said. "He is impressionable and easily influenced by his peers," added the barrister.

He was jailed for 18 months.

As he passed sentence, Judge Adkin said the accumulated effect of the burglary campaign had been to leave the victim and her family terrified, and feeling unsafe in their home.

The court heard that as well as the November burglary at the family's home, the same property had been was targeted on December 8 in a terrifying aggravated burglary, carried out when the owner was at home.

An as yet unidentfied raider held a hammer close to the owner's head.

"That terrible event she will live with for the rest of her days," said Mr Evans.