Two men have been jailed for receiving antiques stolen from isolated West Sussex homes.

The valuable goods were entered for sale at top London auction firms within hours of being swiped, a court heard.

Two of the "fences" who made dishonest profits out of the deals were Barry Gwyer, 42, of Oaktree Way, Hailsham, and 54-year-old Kevin Iliffe, of Michel Dene Road, East Dean.

After a three-week trial at Croydon Crown Court they were both convicted of receiving stolen goods.

Gwyer, found guilty on nine charges, was jailed for five years and Iliffe, found guilty on seven charges, for four-and-a-half years.

They were acquitted of burglaries at Gatehouse Cottage, Lock Lane, Partridge Green; Whitefoots, Dial Post; Titch Hill Farm, Titch Hill, Sompting; Lackenhurst, Lackenhurst Lane, Brooks Green; Findon Park House, Wiston Estate, Findon; Westlands Court, West Grinstead, Horsham; and Hurst Warren, Golf Club Lane, Pulborough.

Property worth about £75,000 had been stolen and the jury heard that it was not long afterwards that items such as a silver mantel clock, an oak and elm cradle, an oak tantalus, an Admiral Fitzroy barometer and a Chinese table,found their way into the hands of Gwyer and Iliffe. They wasted no time in getting them to Christies, Bonhams and other galleries in Chelsea and Sussex.

Both men denied any knowledge of the burglaries and claimed they had bought the antiques from a man named Cyril Lahore, whose address they gave as High Street, Selsey, but who has never been traced by police.

When he was arrested, Iliffe told police: "This is a complicated case. I don't think the officer understands the modern world of antiques."

The men said they had bought items in good faith from Lahore in 1998 and they had no idea the items were stolen.

Gwyer and Iliffe will be back in court on July 13, when a statement detailing their financial assets will be submitted.

It is expected that Judge Brian Pollock will make a forfeiture order.

The judge told the men: "I am completely satisfied that you knew full well these were the proceeds of burglaries from dwellings and I am also satisfied the burglars knew you would be a ready source for the disposal of the goods.

"In most cases they were sold by auction - and that, in turn, has led to problems for some unfortunate purchasers".

The judge went on to commend Detective Constable Felicity Murray, stationed at Steyning at the time but now at Crawley, and Detective Constable Gary Hanky, of Worthing, for their thorough investigations.