Four Men Sentenced in UK Caravan Theft Conspiracy

Four men who are believed to be responsible for a string of caravan thefts have been jailed for at least four years. The gang of travellers, Charlie and Martin Ward, and John and Martin McDonagh were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to four to nine years in prison.

The men are thought to have committed at least half of the UK’s caravan thefts from 2004 to 2007. Upon the arrest of the four men in Chiseldon back in October 2007, there was a 47% drop in insurance claims for thefts of this nature.

Upon arrest, all four men were found in possession of cars, motor homes, caravans, jewellery, and cash. After a three month trial, all of them were found guilty of theft, but were cleared of a money laundering charge.

It is believed that the Ward and McDonagh families began working together back in 2004 when they began stealing caravans from peoples’ driveways and service stations. Judge Patrick Hooton, the sentencing judge at the hearing, said that the crimes had caused considerable distress to the victims. He added that the conspiracy was a well organized operation.

All four men, who regularly travelled between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, all had prior offenses for stealing caravans. Nineteen separate police districts were involved in apprehending the suspects.