A salon owner says he 'wet himself laughing' after hearing how bungling ram-raiders were tracked down through a GPS ankle tag.

But Mark Mardell says the anguish caused by the raid on his salon in Market Street, Dartford, in January, continues to vastly outweigh the amusement.

Gary Parkes, 32, and Liam Byrom, 25, were both jailed last week after they used a moped to smash through the door to Mark Mardell Hair Salon and stole hairdryers, curlers, straighteners and other beauty products.

Detectives were quick to track down Parkes, who had been wearing a tag that tracked his movements during the raid, and later arrested Byrom after phone evidence showed the pair had been in regular contact on the day of the raid and travelled together to the salon.

Mr Mardell said detectives had explained the story of how the two had been caught shortly after their arrest.

"I was wetting myself laughing while I was listening," he said. "The officer found it quite amusing that these people were so silly. You don't take a trackable device if you're doing that - but I'm glad they did."

Nevertheless he said he continued to live with the trauma and financial repercussions of the raid, and that the 22 month sentences the two received wasn't enough.

"I must be the only person that thinks they didn't get a harsh enough sentence," he added. "Everyone else I spoke to said 'wow, they got that long for theft'.

"The trauma and heartache, the inconvenience and sleepless nights and trying to deal with insurance companies while running a business - I still can't forgive them.

"It was 100% premeditated - they weren't just walking past randomly and thought let's have a look at that shop."

Mr Mardell said he would like to speak to the pair as part of their punishment.

"I really think they should do some sort of community work, and they need to be involved with people like myself who are the victims."

"I wouldn't mind sitting down with them so they can tell me why they think they have the right to steal something I've worked hard for.

"Why don't you want to go out and earn an honest living? I've worked my fingers off in this trade for 32 years - what gives you the right to think you can take it off me with no consequences?

"It's still very raw."

The total financial impact is yet to be determined, but he expected it to be around £20,000 or more, taking into account damage to the shop front and interior, along with the stolen stock, and lost days of trade due to closure in the aftermath of the raid.

And he believed he had lost further earnings due to the fact people thought the salon was still closed.

"We've still got boards on the front of the shop, and people are saying 'when are you opening?' We've been going since 1932 as a family concern and we have loyal customers, but Dartford is a growing town and I think it's put some people off.

"The customers and local community have been amazing - I'm thankful for everyone who helped out and said kind words.

"I had lots of kind words from Dartford Borough Council as well, but that's as far as it went."

While damage to the shop front was due to be covered by his landlord's insurance, he was still waiting for his own insurance company to confirm what other losses could be covered.