Gang of thieves stole £12,500 caravan from village driveway in broad daylight

The three men turned up in a stolen VW Tiguan and cut the £12,500 caravan from its cable on Manor Close in Badsworth, before coupling it up to the vehicle and driving off.

Prosecuting at Leeds Crown Court, Syam Soni said that the trio were stopped by police just minutes later after being caught on CCTV from a neighbouring property on the cul-de-sac.

Martin James Foley, Alan Cooper and Charles Joseph Gaskin tried to run from the police but were quickly apprehended.

They all gave 'no comment' interviews when quizzed by police.

The court was told that the VW Tiguan had been stolen from Rotherham on July 19 of this year, and belonged to a farmer who got out of the vehicle to count his cattle.

Then at 9.20am on September 16, the three defendants were seen in the Tiguan, which was now bearing false number plates, on Manor Close in Badsworth.

Foley got out first and knocked on the door of the property to ensure nobody was in.

Gaskin was then seen getting out of the vehicle and they used tools to sever the tow cable on the caravan.

The police found the cutting tools when the Tiguan was stopped minutes later.

Cooper, age 40, of Ronald Road, Balby, admitted theft of the Tuguan and theft of the caravan.

Foley, age 63, of Westmorland Lane, Denaby Main, near Mexborough, admitted going equipped for theft and theft of the caravan.

Gaskin, age 18, of Wadworth Street, Denaby Main, also admitted going equipped for theft and theft of the caravan.

Mitigating for Cooper, Emma Coverley told the court that he had been in the grip of heroin addiction at time of the offence that influenced his behaviour.

Since being held on remand, she said Cooper - who has 15 previous convictions - had got himself clean.

Mitigating for Foley, James Littlehales said that his client, who has 50 previous convictions to his name, had just been released from prison before his latest offending.

He said: "He found himself with little or no support after being released. He had not eaten for two days prior to the incident and took on this enterprise out of pure desperation.

"He is in a sad cycle and he wants to stop that cycle."

Representing Gaskin also, Mr Littlehales said the teenager had been working as a gardener and the thefts were "out of character", because he has no previous convictions.

Since the theft he had secured a qualification to work as a tree surgeon and was holding down a job.

Judge Neil Clark jailed Cooper for 15 months and Foley for 12 months.

Gaskin was given a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.