The final member of a gang which included a convicted murderer and his prison guard girlfriend has been sentenced. 

Thomas Barrass, aged 28, was part of the group alongside Stephanie Heaps and Layton Ramsden. 

Heaps was working as a prison guard when she met Ramsden, who was in prison for murder - they are now married. 

Ramsden was involved in dealing cannabis at the prison and had illicit mobile phones, which Heaps turned a blind eye to. 

After leaving the prison service and becoming a police officer, she suggested to Ramsden that his associates should burgle the house of her ex-boyfriend, who she believed to have £60k stashed at the property from drug dealing. 

Barrass, of Tong Road, Little Lever, was involved in the attempted burglary at the house. 

He was sentenced for his role at Bolton Crown Court on July 9, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. 

Prosecuting, Lisa Hancox said: "He is being sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to commit burglary in 2019. 

"In committing this offence he was in breach of a suspended sentence which was imposed in May 2019." 

Defending barrister Kevin Liston said: "In July 2018 the defendant was given eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for affray. 

"He committed this offence in breach of that suspended sentence." 

The sentencing was at Bolton Crown CourtThe sentencing was at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Judge Jon Close highlighted, that within five months of being given a suspended sentence, Barrass committed further offending. 

Mr Liston added: "He accepted his part very early in these proceedings and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. 

"It is a serious matter but there are layers of involvement. He is very much on the outer circle of involvement. 

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"There is no evidence of direct communication with the centre of the operation, nothing was stolen and damage was minimal.

"The defendant's knowledge of it was limited. He was told to find money but there is a division of involvement between Heaps and Ramsden and Mr Barrass." 

He added: "He is 28 years old, he had been unemployed at the time and had a diagnosis of cancer. 

"He had a gambling addiction, he was looking for funds for that addiction." 

Mr Barrass' cancer was said to now be in remission, but he had more recently been in a car crash, causing him to appear on crutches via the video link. 

Mr Liston also highlighted that Mr Barrass struggled with his mental health. 

Sentencing, Judge Jon Close said: "You suffered serious physical injuries in a car crash, which no doubt would affect your time in custody." 

However, Judge Close reflected on the breach of his suspended sentenced and decided that a custodial sentence would be an appropriate punishment. 

He sentenced Barrass to 18 months imprisonment.