Two men jailed following aggravated burglary in Ellesmere Port

Two men from Liverpool who orchestrated an aggravated burglary at an address in Ellesmere Port have been jailed.

Francis Constantine and Jonjo Swaine appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 9th June where they were sentenced for more than 15 years in prison.

Constantine, aged 27, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, plus an extended three years on licence after he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Swaine, of Wilburn Street, was jailed for 30 months after he pleaded guilty to one count of burglary.

The court heard how in December 2024 the victim was selling a car seat on Facebook Marketplace when they were contacted by Constantine and Swaine, who had set up a fake account on the social media channel.

Following a conversation, the victim agreed a price for the car seat and agreed to exchange the goods at a neutral location on Westminster Grove, Ellesmere Port, on Monday 9th December.

However, unbeknown to the victim, while she was waiting on Westminster Grove, Constantine and Swaine had actually attended their home on Brooklyn Drive, where the pair had forced entry into the address.

Once inside the property, the pair were approached by the victim’s 13-year-old daughter, who had heard banging coming from downstairs.

During the confrontation, Constantine had threatened the teenager with a knife, stating that he would ‘knock her out’ if she came any closer.

While Constantine was threatening the teenager, Swaine stole a motocross bike from the address. The pair then fled and later returned to Liverpool with the bike.

The incident was reported to Cheshire Police and an investigation was launched by Ellesmere Port.

Following extensive enquiries using Facebook, ANPR, and telecoms, Constantine and Swaine were identified as the suspects in the case and the pair were subsequently arrested and charged in relation to the incident.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Emma Donaldson of Ellesmere Port CID said:

“I welcome the sentences handed to Constantine and Swaine and I hope that they act as a warning to other offenders planning to come to Cheshire.

“Constantine and Swaine thought that they’d orchestrated the perfect crime, using fake social media accounts to lure the victim out of their home so that they could carry out their crime.

“However, thanks to the bravery of the victim, and the work of the team here at Ellesmere Port, we were quickly able to identify the pair as the offenders in the case and they have now been held accountable for their actions."

Pictured - Francis Constantine and Jonjo Swaine.