BROTHERS who snatched valuables and 12 boxes of Toblerone from a family after sneaking into their home while they were away have been sentenced.

Burglars Benjamin and Oliver Joy, who had 'fractured backgrounds', admitted breaking into the Wheatley home on June 6.

Benjamin Joy sniffled and sobbed as he was jailed for two years and five months under the government's 'three-strike' rule after admitting it was the third time he had burgled a home.

But Recorder Ann Mulligan spared the 32-year-old, of Angus Court, Thame, from the mandatory minimum three-year jail term, giving the defendant 'credit' for his guilty plea.

Recorder Mulligan declared she would also take an 'exceptional' course with Oliver Joy, handing him a ten-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Prosecutor Abigail Husbands told Oxford Crown Court police were called to reports a man was riding along Wheatley's London Road with his shirt off and grasping a meat cleaver at 5.40am.

Officers discovered 'very drunk' Oliver Joy on the roof of his caravan, suggesting he was going to harm himself and threatening police.

The 36-year-old also claimed he was going to arm himself with a chainsaw as he roared about Jesus and God, waving his arms around, the court was told on Tuesday.

Ms Husbands said Oliver Joy, of Roman Way, Wheatley, then barricaded himself inside his caravan before police managed to arrest him.

Police were called to Hillary Way a couple of hours later after it was discovered a house in the Wheatley street had been burgled.

The couple who lived in the house were away but a family member had stopped by to prepare the property for their arrival back home, Ms Husbands said.

Muddy footprints were spotted upstairs, along with a broken photo frame and Oliver Joy's blood on the sofa, the prosecutor continued.

Burglars snatched items including six bottles of spirits, 12 boxes of Toblerone, perfume, aftershave, two laptops, a tablet, jewellery box and a Buddha statue.

Officers were handed a list of items missing from the house which were all discovered in Oliver Joy's caravan, except for the 'sentimental' statue bought in Cambodia.

Lucy Ffrench, defending father-of-two Oliver Joy, said her client had not been 'coping' with his life and claimed he had been using cannabis and alcohol to deal with problems from his childhood.

Ronan McCann, defending father-of-two Benjamin Joy, said his client also had a difficult childhood and had been on antidepressants after being seriously assaulted in 2008.

Both admitted burglary while Oliver Joy, who had 30 convictions for 74 offences, also admitted threatening behaviour.

Oliver Joy was also made subject to a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and must pay a £140 victim surcharge.

Benjamin Joy, who had 22 convictions for 30 offences, must pay a £170 victim surcharge.