FOOTAGE has shown the moments four men were arrested for stealing more than 30 Land Rovers across the UK.
Police launched a major investigation into the gang, who stole £600k worth of vehicles in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Powys over an eight-month period.
Leonard Hodgkins, 50, of Marlborough Gardens, Malvern, Jimmy Butler, 41, of Pershore Lane, Hindlip, Benjamin Hobbs, 35, of Beesmoor Road, Bristol and David Hodgkins, 40 of The Furlong, Powick have all been jailed for their role in the thefts.
The group targeted Land Rover Defenders and took them to a workshop in Bristol, which was owned by Hobbs and being used as a ‘chop shop’, dealing in stolen car parts.
READ MORE: Gang jailed after stealing £600k worth of Land Rovers across UK
Butler was arrested first, during which officers found items of clothing that had been seen in CCTV of thefts being committed.
Days later, they arrested the other three men, with body-cam footage showing David Hodgkins being handcuffed as he was lying in bed.
Footage also shows Leonard Hodgkins attempting to flee police as they chased him on foot.
In court
David Hodgkins was the first to plead guilty, admitting to conspiracy to commit theft in December last year.
The other three men changed their pleas to guilty at a trial at Hereford Crown Court on Friday, September 18.
CAUGHT: Jimmy Butler was one of the gang members involved in thefts of Land Rovers across the UK (Image: West Mercia Police)
Leonard Hodgkins was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, David Hodgkins was sentenced to three years Butler received three years and eight months and Hobbs was sentenced to four years and four months.
Detective Sergeant Mark Jones of Hereford Reactive CID, who was the lead investigator for Operation Liondale, said: “This was a complex but ultimately successful investigation that tracked down and prosecuted this gang of car thieves, so we are pleased to get these sentences today as their criminality harmed many people in our force area and neighbouring forces too.
“We know it often seems like car thieves get away with it, but we hope this result shows we will always work hard to bring these offenders before the courts and try to halt the impact their actions have on our communities.”
