Caravan gang sentenced to 5 years
Posted on March 10th 2010
The infamous caravan gang from Wiltshire have been sentenced to 5 years in jail after being found guilty to the theft of £700,000 worth of caravans.
It is believed that the men where responsible for half the country's caravan thefts between 2004 and 2007. This allegation was backed up by the insurance industry when they reported that the amount of theft claims had dropped by 47% since their arrest in 2007. The four men, Martin McDonagh 29, John McDonagh 31, Charlie Ward 28 and Martin Ward 21, where arrested in a police raid in Chiseldon in October 2007.
Winchester Crown Court found the gang guilty of conspiring to steal but the charges for money laundering where dropped during a three-month trial. Sentences handed out to the conspirators consisted of a 5 year sentence for their involvements in the thefts as well as another 4 years for separate offences. All sentences will be served consequently.
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."
News brought to you by Insure My Caravan providing UK caravan owners with fully comprehensive caravan insurance as standard.
