CliveH Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Travellers jailed over caravan thefts By Martin Halfpenny, Press Association Monday, 8 March 2010 A gang of travellers thought to have been responsible for nearly half the country's caravan thefts over a three-year period were jailed today. Family members Charlie Ward, 28, Martin Ward, 21, John McDonagh, 31, and Martin McDonagh, 29, were found to be in possession of more than £700,000 in stolen caravans, cars and motorhomes, jewellery and cash when they were arrested in Wiltshire in 2007, police said. After they were detained, thefts of caravans fell from 848 to 454 in a year. Winchester Crown Court heard the Ward-McDonaghs began stealing caravans from driveways and motorway service stations in 2004. The men were found guilty of conspiring to steal after the three-month trial, but cleared of money laundering. Fathers-of-five Martin McDonagh and Charlie Ward were sentenced to four years and five years to be served consecutively for two conspiracies. John McDonagh and Martin Ward received four years for their part in one of the conspiracies. Only around half of the value of the goods had been recovered by police. Sentencing the men, Judge Patrick Hooton said the crimes had caused distress and anguish to the victims. "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 judge said the conspiracy was well organised. "All four each in their own way, in particular you Charlie Ward and Martin McDonagh, were responsible for all this." The men, who travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, showed no emotion as the sentences were handed down. All of them had previous convictions related to the theft of caravans. Confiscation proceedings will now take place against the gang to seize their assets, the court was told, and the men were ordered to co-operate with detailing their worth. Detective Inspector Matt Davey, from Wiltshire Police, revealed at the end of the trial officials from the insurance industry reported a 47 per cent drop in national caravan thefts following the gang's arrest. Nineteen police forces were involved in the operation to catch the men. ................................... About time too. Meanwhile - whilst these Travellers nick our caravans they get quicker NHS appointments than the rest of us plebs because they should not be kept waiting. Thanks to the politically correct numpties once again for totally missing reality. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193810/Want-GP-Gipsies-come-NHS-tells-doctors-travellers-seen-straight-away.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 And the nasty bar stewrds will be out in two years having had time to refine their methods enough not to get caught again for a long while. And that my friends is UK justice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donna miller Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 I can only assume that our van was one of the many stolen by these scum. >:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Thats alright then, it goes along with their 'fast track' land occupation and building skills! :D :D :D Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I'd cut their frigging hands off. Like sharia law dictates. The moslems do get some things right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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