An uncle and nephew who tried to smash their way into a leather warehouse have been jailed.

High on drink and drugs, David Whitley, 47, and John Stagg, 37, had armed themselves with crowbars but the pair were overheard discussing the planned break-in and police were called.

When officers surrounded the pair, Stagg spat in one PC's face and snarled: "I've got AIDS."

Southwark Crown Court heard how plasterer Whitley planned the Christmas Eve break-in after losing his job and his home towards the end of last year.

He recruited scaffolder Stagg and the pair loaded a car with the tools they needed. They parked outside the building before stumbling towards the front door.

A neighbour heard them bellow: "We'll need screwdrivers to get in" before staggering back to the car.

They were then seen wielding the crowbars.

Whitley and Stagg, both originally from Hastings, admitted conspiracy to commit burglary.

Stagg also admitted common assault for spitting at PC Jason Green - the second time he has spat at a police officer when caught.

Miss Recorder Wendy Joseph, QC, told Whitley, who has more than 20 convictions for burglary, shoplifting and dishonesty: "People's businesses are not to be undermined and treated in this way.

"The fact that your activities were clumsy and ineffective because you were under the influence of drugs and drink is little mitigation.

"This offence was planned. You went out with crowbars and went and used a vehicle in a condition in which you must have known raised real risk for yourself, your passenger and members of the public."

Turning to Stagg, the judge said: "You too went out with the equipment to carry out burglaries and drove a vehicle in the condition that has been described.

"You spat at the police officer. It really is very bad. This is exactly what you did before, spitting in the face of someone whose job it is to deal with you.

"To say that you had AIDS really could only have been designed to terrify that officer - just before Christmas as well.

"This is a family time and it must have weighed upon him particularly heavily.

"This was gratuitous and unnecessary."

Whitley was jailed for 12 months and Stagg for 16 months.

The court heard the pair had been living rough in east London before the botched break-in at Club Row in Shoreditch.