Jailed: the dad and three sons behind spate of 90 vehicle break-ins

Today dishonest dad Wilfred Wells and his three sons Lenny, Nicky and Edward are beginning jail sentences totalling 13 and a half years.

It comes after police used state-of-the-art technology to pin them to a spate of 90 vehicle break-ins.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the gang would home in on cars parked in remote areas across the New Forest and Dorset, as well as Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

Among £25,000 worth of items stolen were handbags, bag packs and wallets - with bank cards used after bits of paper were found revealing pin codes.

One of the victims, a widow lost her phone with the last text messages made by her husband before he died.

In another theft a Dutch tourist visiting the New Forest had her passport taken and was forced to travel to the Netherlands' Embassy in London for a new one.

The Wells gang also preyed on a vehicle parked in a care home and another in a car park for the Help for Heroes charity which rehabilitate war veterans.

Damage for many of the victims ran into hundreds of pounds. Some young families had to travel large distances home without a car window.

However, in a joint police investigation involving forces across the South, the net finally closed in on the Wells criminal clan.

Using mobile phone tracking and number plate recognition technology, police were able to match the dates, times and places of about 90 thefts with the movements of the Wells gang between August 2013 and July 2014.

Car parks targeted were often in the New Forest and included Martin Down Nature Reserve in Lymington, Bramble Hill in Lyndhurst, A forest car park in Fritham, The National Trust common of Hale Purlieu, Lymington and Fordingbridge.

Passing sentencing, judge Gary Burrell said: “This was a professional family enterprise. You four were reasonably organised and quite good at what you did and made a living out of it.”

Turning to Wells senior, who the court heard had theft convictions dating back to the 1970s, Judge Burrell said: “You are a patriarch.

“You are the father to Lenny, Nicky and Edward. You are someone who involved them in this offending and it might have been difficult for them not to be involved.

“That is a dreadful thing to have done to your sons, effectively turning them into criminals - a dreadful thing.”

All four men will also face a confiscation order of their assets to recoup a total of £25,000.

Name: Wilfred Wells

Age: 60

Address: Eyres Way, Salisbury

Charge: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.

Mitigation: He needed the money and carers for a sick wife

Sentence: Four years

Name: Nicky Wells

Age: 22

Address: Eyres Way, Salisbury

Charge: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.

Mitigation: needed the cash.

Sentence: two and a half years

Name: Edward Wells

Age: 26

Address: Eyres Way Salisbury

Charge: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.

Mitigation: Financial - drug and alcohol misuse. Wrote a letter to the judge saying sorry.

Sentence: three years

Name: Lenny Wells

Age: 27

Address: Eyres Way, Salisbury

Charge: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.

Mitigation: need the money. Said he was disgusted at what he had done.

Sentence: four years