This is the moment a pair of thieves stole an animal ambulance before repeatedly smashing the vehicle into a corner shop during an early morning raid.

Bailey Omar and Dillyn Sherrington stole the £20,000 emergency vehicle from a car wash in Newcastle on July 1 this year.

The next morning, Omar and Sherrington transformed the ambulance - which is normally used by veterinary practice Blythman & Partners to transport sick and injured pets - into a makeshift battering ram to break into a shop.

In dramatic CCTV footage, the crooks can be seen repeatedly reversing into the premises. 

The raid caused extensive damage, leaving the shop facing a repair bill of more than £20,000. 

Meanwhile, the animal ambulance was also badly damaged and had to be written off.

Its owners had left the vehicle at the car wash while they were on holiday when it was stolen. 

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Omar, 23, and Sherrington, 19, both pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and aggravated vehicle taking.

Sherrington also admitted possession of a Class B controlled drug.

The pair returned to court for sentencing on September 18.

Omar was jailed for 38 months and disqualified from driving for two years and 11 months.

Sherrington was sentenced to 30 months in a young offenders institution and banned from driving for two years and nine months.

Both were also ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.

The animal ambulance has since been replaced, but the veterinary practice was left counting the cost of losing the specialist vehicle used to transport animals needing treatment.