TWO teenagers have been sentenced to detention after a mother of five was subjected to a 'horrifying' attack with a hammer and her home raided.

The boys, aged 16 and 15 were found by police after they fled the house in Prospect Road, Northallerton taking the woman's coat with them. Both pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary when they appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

Police said the youngsters were arrested after terrified family members rang 999 in the early hours of December 13.

The woman had answered a knock at her door to find no one there but when she followed the family dog who had run off down a side alley she was attacked from behind by a male carrying a hammer.

The distraught mother was followed back into her home by the male accompanied by the other teenager who was carrying a knife and screwdriver. The victim shouted to her 16 year-old son to call police as the teenagers called for money, drugs or 'anything'. Both defendants who were wearing all black and had their faces covered fled the scene.

Officers arrived within minutes and found the two suspects, matching the description given by the homeowner, after they ran away from a police vehicle. One was carrying a rucksack with a hammer, a kitchen knife, a white mask and the victim’s jacket. A police dog later found a kitchen knife which had been thrown into a nearby garden by one of the males.

At Teesside Crown Court the15 year-old was sentenced to a three year detention order, the16 year-old was sentenced to a two year detention and training order. Neither can be named because of their ages.

Investigating Officer DC Karen Barugh of North Yorkshire Police’s CID said: "Two teenagers have been jailed for their roles in an aggravated burglary, where they targeted a mother in her own home whilst her young children were sleeping.

"This was a truly horrifying ordeal for both the victim and her 16 year-old son who woke up to discover his mother covered in blood and being chased into their home by two masked males.

"I would like to praise the family for their bravery throughout the investigation and also praise my colleagues who responded on the night and whose actions were instrumental in our initial response, and the investigation that followed.

"We will continue to tackle burglaries and violent crime across the county and bring to justice those involved in this type of criminality."