TWO crooks whose long-running contempt for the law made a judge brand them "outlaws" have been jailed.

Phillip Bright and Vernon Davies burgled homes in Poole and clocked up hundreds of previous convictions between them.

Bright, 32, from Fraser Road, Poole, and Davies, 41, from Galloway Road, Hamworthy, were jailed for four years three months and four years respectively.

Bright admitted burglaries in Gorse Lane and Hawthorn Drive, and Davies in Gorse Lane and Meadowbank Road, all on the same night in October.

They had gone out trying to get things to sell for alcohol, said Malcolm Bibley, defending, at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday.

Bright has previously been convicted of five house burglaries and three counts of GBH, and Davies 40 previous convictions for 92 offences.

Judge John Beashel, sitting at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday said: "In a way you are outlaws - you behave as though criminal law does not apply to you.

"You break into homes and prey on people - the ladies who were victims were hard working people. It's an appalling state of affairs."

The victim's impact statements said they were "angry", "nervous" and that they had "lost their trust in people."

Bright also admitted dangerous driving after speeding at up to 80mph on 30mph roads over 12 miles from Blandford Road before pulling up at a pub in Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen.

The defence disputed the speed was that high.

Bright also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods from burglaries at Chetnole Close, Canford Heath, and Phillips Road, Corfe Mullen.