Gang blamed for half of all caravan thefts are jailed

A GANG of travellers thought to have been responsible for nearly half the country's caravan thefts over a three-year period have been jailed.

Martin McDonagh, 29, and Charlie Ward, 28, were each jailed for a total of nine years, while John McDonagh, 31, and Martin Ward, 21, were given four-year sentences.

A total of 19 police forces were involved in the operation to catch the gang, who were found in possession of more than 700,000 in stolen caravans, cars, motorhomes and jewellery, along with cash, when they were arrested in Wiltshire in 2007.

After they were detained, thefts of caravans fell by 47 per cent, from 848 to 454 in a year.

Judge Patrick Hooton said: "This trial lasted for three months and, during the course of it, I heard evidence of repeated thefts of caravans and motor vehicles which in total could be described as theft on a grand scale repeated time after time after time."

The men, who travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, all had previous convictions related to the theft of caravans.

Confiscation proceedings will now take place to seize their assets.