Darren Hart, 37, had been hoping the break-in would solve his financial problems but, instead, it landed him with a suspended prison sentence.

Hart, of Stirling Close, West Row, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to theft, together with 45-year-old Amy Maruna who had been responsible for luring their victim away.

Maruna had befriended David Toms, of Oaklands Drive, Brandon, in the hope of getting half the proceeds of the raid to give her enough money to leave her husband.

On the evening of February 22, Maruna, of Hythe Road, Methwold, persuaded Mr Toms to join her in her car which she drove around country roads for some time, claiming to be lost, the court heard.

During this drive, Hart went to Mr Toms' home and broke in, stealing a collection of gold coins and a valuable shotgun, said Godfried Duag, prosecuting.

Afterwards, Maruna dropped Mr Toms at his home.

Mr Duah said Mr Toms, who said he had developed strong feelings for Maruna, ended up at a local pub where he stayed until 2am before walking home and falling asleep on a sofa.

The next morning, he woke to find the back door open and his shotgun, estimated to be worth more than £26,000, and his collection of gold coins missing.

Mr Duah said that to pave the way for the burglary, Maruna had given a map to Hart which showed how to reach the house and get in.

Mr Duah added there had been a clear betrayal of the victim who was suffering with his nerves and feared a further attack.

Richard Potts, mitigating, said Hart had been trying to raise money to deal with his domestic situation.

The burglary was totally out of character for Hart, said Mr Potts. It had been committed at a time when Hart's marriage was breaking up and he faced financial difficulties.

Andrew Thompson, mitigating for Maruna, said his client, a mother of twin boys, had acted entirely out of character when she became involved in the offence.

"This represents an astonishing aberration. It is almost impossible to understand how she became involved."

She had admitted her involvement to police the next day, added Mr Thompson. As a result, the pair were both arrested and police recovered all the stolen property from Hart's home address.

Sentencing Maruna, Judge John Devaux told her that her involvement had represented a serious breach of trust in what had been a carefully planned crime.

Maruna was handed an eight-month prison term, suspended for 21 months and ordered to complete 200 hours' unpaid community work. She must also comply with a 10pm-6am curfew for the next four months and pay £500 costs.

Judge Devaux told Maruna, who is a US citizen, he was not recommending her deportation.

Hart, who has a number of previous convictions, was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 21 months, made subject to the same curfew as Maruna, ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £500 costs.