Two men who stole a camcorder were jailed after a judge told them they were stealing victims' memories.

Sean Campion and Arthur Connor, both drug addicts at the time, were seen by a passer-by taking the camcorder while the owner was sitting on a bench during a visit to Eastbourne in July.

When approached, the men ran off.

Shortly after, Connor was seen by a police officer leaving a ladies' public toilet. The camcorder was found inside.

When they appeared at Lewes Crown Court, both men admitted theft.

Campion also admitted attempting to steal from an elderly shopper while she was in a store in Eastbourne two days earlier.

Campion, 32, of Cavendish Place, Eastbourne, was sentenced to a total of 16 months' jail.

Four months were for a previous offence of theft for which he had been given a drug treatment and testing order, which he breached.

Connor, 45, of Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, was sentenced to 13 months in jail. Four months of the sentence was for a previous offence of theft for which he was given a community rehabilitation order, which he breached.

Judge David Rennie told the pair it was a mean offence to steal the camcorder.

He said: "When people steal camcorders they often steal memories, which is a dreadful thing to do. Very often people have much-valued family footage, which they would wish to remember for years to come."

The court heard both men had a long history of previous theft convictions.

Tim Bergin, defending Campion, said his client's life had been plagued by drugs but he had successfully completed a detoxification programme while in jail awaiting sentence.

Frank Winslett, defending Connor, said his client was also no longer on drugs. He said: "He accepts he should be sorting his life out."