Ram raid man jailed.

A ram raider caused more than pounds 15,000 of damage when he drove through the front doors of a DIY store.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard how Ross Dorian Treharne, 28, drove a Renault hatchback through the front doors of the B&Q store at Pentrebach.

A total of pounds 1,447 of goods were taken in the raid, which happened overnight between January 16 and the early hours of January 17, including six mitre saws, 10 drills, three tile cutters and three vacuum cleaners.

Damage to the store, damage to stock and the stolen items resulted in a total cost of about pounds 18,000 to B&Q.

The car, which was covered in white paint from the store, had smashed windows and a damaged bumper and was later recovered nearby in Penyard. Inside police found power tools.

Treharne, of Second Avenue, Galon Uchaf, was arrested after fleeing to his ex-partner's home.

Forensic evidence revealed his right shoe matched a foot mark at the scene, glass fibres matched fibres from the B&Q window and he later pleaded guilty to burglary.

For Treharne, Andrew Davies told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court: 'His best mitigation is his guilty plea.

'In relation to the offence he unfortunately remembers little.

'He was involved in a relationship and as a consequence of the break-up he turned once again to drugs.

'He doesn't remember committing the offence but accepts on the basis of forensic evidence that he must have committed the offence.'

Sentencing him to 30 months in prison and ordering he first serve 120 days of an unexpired licence, Judge John Curran said: 'Ram raids are notoriously destructive forms of burglary which have to be discouraged.'