A couple who did not trust banks lost their entire life savings when robbers broke in and found more than £140,000 in cash.

By the time detectives caught up with them, only £9,000 could be recovered.

Swansea Crown Court heard it was 'a certainty' that someone close to hard working carpet fitter Barry Davies and Sheila John had tipped off the gang.

James Jenkins, prosecuting, said it had taken the couple their entire working lives to save the money.

But they 'had their own attitudes' towards banks and kept the cash in a safe inside their modest terraced house in Pembroke Dock. The money was tied up with home-made wraps.

But someone tipped off Ryan Edwards, 26, and Darren Wilcox, 31.

When Mrs John, in her early 70s, answered a knock at the door the pair rushed in, knocking her aside and screaming 'where's the money, where's the safe?'

Mrs. John was bundled into a bedroom while Edwards and Wilcox searched the house and eventually found the safe.

Mrs. John was so afraid she apologised for denying there was any money in the house.

Mrs. John, less than five feet tall, was left trussed up with hand ties which would later reveal Edwards's DNA. Before leaving, they ripped out the telephone line and warned her not to raise the alarm until they had had time to leave the area.

After his arrest, detectives examined Ryan Edwards's mobile telephone, which led them to Wilcox.

Mr. Jenkins said the vast majority of the money was not recoverable. Wilcox had fed £9,000 into slot machines in a single day.

Edwards and Wilcox admitted conspiracy to rob.

The safe was found at the home of Edwards's uncle, Dorian Edwards, aged 49. He admitted handling stolen goods.

Wilcox, of Mynachdy, Cardiff, was jailed for seven-and-a-half-years and Ryan Edwards, of Garylydan, Ebbw Vale, to seven. Dorian Edwards, also of Garylydan, was jailed for 14 months.

Judge Peter Heywood said Mr. Davies and Mrs. John had held an 'eccentric, but understandable view of banks given the current climate.'

He added: "There has been huge financial harm caused. Everything they worked for evaporated in moments."

Judge Heywood named 'local men' Royston Price and John Roberts as having been involved in the conspiracy. There was no doubt, he added, that they had provided the information about the amount of money in the house.

The sentences to be served by Ryan Edwards and Wilcox were reduced because they had been willing to give evidence against Price and Roberts.

But something had gone wrong with that trial and they had not, in fact, appeared as witnesses for the crown.