Seven jailed for 170 thefts spree

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The gang stole goods to the value of nearly £335,000 across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex

Seven men have been jailed for being involved in 170 thefts and burglaries, stealing nearly £335,000-worth of goods across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

The men, from Ipswich, targeted small communities, Ipswich Court Court heard.

Daniel Fiddes, Paul Stevenson, Daniel Pugh, Tom Nicholls and Paul Watchman pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal across all three counties.

Tyren Brooks and Timay Denton pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal across Suffolk and Essex.

Ipswich Crown Court heard they stole from homes, businesses and cars. In some cases they stole from houses where their victims were asleep in bed.

'Night-time missions'

The total value of items stolen was nearly £335,000.

Not all members of the gang - Pugh, 18, Nicholls, 18, Fiddes, 18, Stevenson, 23, Watchman, 24, Brooks, 20 and Denton, 21, - took part in all of the thefts and burglaries.

Gregory Perrins, prosecuting, told the court Pugh, Nicholls, Fiddes, Stevenson and Watchman went on a crime spree which involved 120 offences between July 2007 and May 2008.

The total worth of the items stolen was £210,000.

He said that after Fiddes, Stevenson and Pugh were bailed for their part in the first set of crimes they continued their night-time "missions" throughout January this year accompanied by Denton and Brooks.

In north Essex and Suffolk they stole items to the value of £125,000.

When the men were arrested police found videos taken on a mobile phone of the men joyriding some of the stolen vehicles including a lorry.

'Extremely prolific'

Officers also found photos taken on a stolen camera of Fiddes counting money which had been stolen during a raid.

Judge Peter Fenn, sentencing, told the men they were "extremely serious and prolific" offenders.

Stevenson was imprisoned for four years for his part in the first set of burglaries and thefts, and a further three years for "continuing" the crime spree in January this year.

Pugh was imprisoned for five years for each spate of offences to run concurrently.

Fiddes was jailed for three years for the first set of crimes and two years for the second set to run consecutively.

Watchman was jailed for two years and six months for the first spate of crimes.

Nicholls was imprisoned for two years for his part in the first set of burglaries.

Brooks and Denton were jailed for two years each for their part in the crimes which took place this year.