A SUFFOLK man and his girlfriend, who were involved in a drive by shooting campaign have each been jailed for eight months.Ryan Jefferies, 21, and his girlfriend Megan Lawrence, 19, took part in a “campaign of vandalism” in which two BB guns were used to damage 40 cars and several windows of houses around Suffolk on a single day last October, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A SUFFOLK man and his girlfriend, who were involved in a drive by shooting campaign have each been jailed for eight months.

Ryan Jefferies, 21, and his girlfriend Megan Lawrence, 19, took part in a “campaign of vandalism” in which two BB guns were used to damage 40 cars and several windows of houses around Suffolk on a single day last October, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A 21-year-old man was also hit in the face with a pellet as he was walking along Landseer Road, said Robert Sadd prosecuting.

Jefferies and Lawrence, who were living in Edwin Avenue, Woodbridge, both admitted 13 offences of criminal damage, common assault and possession of an imitation fire arm.

Sentencing Jefferies and Lawrence to custodial sentences of eight months, Judge Neil McKittrick said that although the incidents of criminal damage were with one exception not of high value they had caused considerable inconvenience and possible danger to people whose property was targeted.

The judge said the vandalism covered a large area and included damage to houses and cars in Eye, Needham Market, Grundisburgh, Orford, Kirton, Felixstowe and Levington.

He said the most serious incident was the assault on 21-year-old Matthew Rackman who had been walking along Landseer Road, Ipswich.

Judge McKittrick said he found it “unacceptable” that although the defendants had known for seven months they were coming to court they had not made any great effort to save money which could be paid as compensation to their victims.

A third defendant, Luke Berry, 19, of Edwin Avenue, Woodbridge, also admitted 13 offences of criminal damage and possession of an imitation fire arm and will be sentenced at a later date.

All three defendants asked for 51 offences to be taken into consideration.

Mr Sadd told the court that only one of the BB guns used on October 14 had been recovered.

A fire arm expert who examined it described it as looking like a proper hand gun which could fire ball bearings at 250 miles per hour.

Joanne Eley, for Jefferies and Lawrence accepted they had taken part in a campaign of vandalism and said they were apologetic and had learned their lesson.

She said the offences had happened when they had time on their hands. “It was very common for them to drive around Suffolk to while away spare time,” she said.

Miss Eley said Jefferies apologised to Mr Rackman for his injury.

She said that it had never been intended for anyone to be injured but Jefferies accepted he should have foreseen that somebody could have been injured.