Two members of an armed drugs gang, who went on the run rather than face trial, have received jail sentences totalling more than 21 years.

Reneo Shehu, 20, and Androen Lafetaj, 23, who was carrying a loaded Beretta handgun, came to Canterbury with two others intending to break into a house-turned cannabis factory in the city.

Neighbours in Edgar Road woke to the sounds of banging and smashing glass in the early hours of the morning as the four broke into the empty home.

They were seen loading items into the back of a Ford Transit van, but when police arrived they jumped in and sped off, driving at one of the officers.

He managed to fling himself out of the way to avoid serious injury, but was still clipped by the van.

The gang then dumped the van in Havelock Street and split up in an effort to evade police, but two of them – Kerem Bedensel and Reneo Shehu – were arrested in Duck Lane.

A police dog found the other two men - Osman Elmi and Androen Lafetaj – hiding beneath vehicles in Queningate car park, and they were also arrested. Police also found a gun.

A search of the area uncovered gloves, hats, a hunting knife, mobile phones and more tubes of cocaine that had been discarded by the gang.

The house they had targeted was found to contain cannabis plants and cultivation equipment.

At Canterbury Crown Court, Elmi, 26, of Wood Green, London, was found guilty of burglary and jailed for a year.

Bedensel, 28, who is also from Wood Green, was convicted of burglary, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified. He was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for three years.

But the two others went on the run and were convicted in their absence.

Lafetaj was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, aggravated burglary and possessing cocaine and was given a 14-year sentence.

Shehu received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for aggravated burglary and possessing cocaine.

Judge Heather Norton said: “The two have still not been apprehended. The firearm was loaded with live ammunition but couldn’t be fired because it had a faulty firing pin which was broken.

“However the evidence was that the offender would not necessarily have known that.”

Investigating officer DC David Friend said: “These four men had organised to travel down to Canterbury from north London to commit this burglary.

“We believe they were drawn to the property due to the cannabis cultivation. Bringing weapons, including an illegal firearm, was a very serious statement and one which could have had tragic repercussions.

“Fortunately they were found and arrested quickly and the firearm was taken away before it could cause any harm.

“In the eyes of the law there will never be a legitimate reason for carrying such a firearm, and I think the verdicts confirm that.”