CRIMINAL brothers fired ball bearings at a taxi, leaving the driver terrified. 

Dillon Alan Cooper, 21, and Thomas Edward Cooper, 21, both of Burnt House Lane, Bransgore, caused extensive damage to a taxi after firing ball bearings at it on February 28, 2023. 

During the incident, which took place shortly after 11am in Burley Road, Bransgore, the driver was also put in fear of violence. 

Both brothers were ordered to pay £650 each (£1,300 in total) in compensation to the victim at a sentencing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon, September 10. 

Dillon Cooper also pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of pounds worth of camping equipment and tools from a vehicle in Emery Down shortly before 4pm on June 25, 2023. 

The incident, which occurred in Bolderwood Road, involved the theft of £3,500 worth of items. He was ordered to pay £2,746.62 in compensation to the victim. 

The pair, who had already pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at the same court on Thursday, July 25 have each been handed an 18-month community order. 

Thomas Cooper will be required to complete a maximum of 15 rehabilitation activity days, as well as 150 hours of unpaid work. 

He was also sentenced, as above, for two common assaults of a police officer and police sergeant in Burnt House Lane on January 26, 2023. 

Dillon Cooper will be required to complete a maximum of 20 rehabilitation activity days and 270 hours of unpaid work.  

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Katherine Gillingham, said: “I am pleased for the victims in these cases with the positive outcome at court. 

“The Cooper brothers will now face the consequences of their actions and will have to compensate those who they have committed crimes against. 

“Behaviour and criminality such as theirs will never be tolerated and we will always work tirelessly to ensure offenders are held to account for their offending. 

“This should serve as a reminder to other offenders out there that we will always seek to bring you to justice. 

“You will not be allowed to simply get away with stealing, causing damage, putting innocent members of the public in fear of their safety and assaulting police officers in the execution of their duties.”