Two masked robbers who broke into a doctor’s home and tied up housesitters before making off with a large haul of jewellery are facing long jail sentences.

Brothers Daren Richardson and Kevin Williams were inked to the raid by DNA evidence.

They denied robbery, false imprisonment and aggravated vehicle taking, but were convicted on Thursday.

Richardson, of Windmill Road, Gillingham, appeared in the dock alone as Williams, of Wratten Road West, Hitchen, Hertfordshire, jumped bail on October 22. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the pair knew about the valuable jewellery at the house in Shaws Way, Rochester, because Richardson’s partner Tracey Clark worked there as a cleaner.

The 55-year-old, of Church Street, Rochester, had been charged with Richardson, 51, and Williams, 59, but she has since died after an illness.

Peter and Karen Lenz were housesitting at the home of GP Dudley Hubbard and his opera singer wife Christine when the robbers struck in the early hours of February 16.

“This house was specifically targeted as there was a significant amount of jewellery there,” said prosecutor Christopher May. “The robbers concentrated on stealing jewellery. They left behind other items such as laptops.

“There must, therefore, have been information available to them which led them to choose this particular house.”

Australians Mr and Mrs Lenz were upstairs in the guest bedroom. The back door had not been locked because the dogs had not yet been let out.

“This was a terrifying ordeal for them...” Prosecutor Christopher May

The two robbers, wearing balaclavas, went upstairs and made threats, saying they had a knife and demanding to know where the jewellery was.

They bound the victims hand and foot and “hooded” them with pillow cases as they lay on the bed.

“This was a terrifying ordeal for them,” said Mr May. “The robbers eventually left having found a large quantity of Mrs Hubbard’s jewellery. She had a great deal of jewellery she had amassed over the years.”

The raiders took the keys of Mr and Mrs Lenz’s transit van and drove off in it. They crashed it soon afterwards into railings outside Rochester Grammar School.

“The prosecution say there was inside knowledge,” said Mr May. “The link was Tracey Clark. She had been working there for a year or two. It seems likely she had also been taking some of it.”

Richardson also knew the house because he had been a window cleaner there and recommended his partner for the cleaning job.

Richardson’s DNA was found on rope or cable used to tie up the couple. Williams’ DNA was on a balaclava retrieved from the crashed van.

Some of the jewellery and the victims’ mobile phones were with the discarded hood.

Clark had pawned some of the jewellery. Stones had been removed from some of the rings. There were also two Rolex watches.

The judge, Recorder James Mullholland QC, adjourned sentence to allow time for Williams to be arrested.

He told jurors: “We all know it is going to be a long sentence. I’m sure Mr Richardson appreciates that.”