A “SOPHISTICATED” crime gang stole a tractor and a JCB and then used them to ram a string of Cumbrian supermarkets in an attempt to steal cash machines.

The eight-handed gang of men carried out four attacks - but were linked with 23 more - on cash points in five Cumbrian towns between 2017 and 2018.

The men were arrested and charged after a police operation focusing on attacks on cash points in towns including Brampton, Cockermouth, Silloth, Whitehaven and Maryport.

At Carlisle Crown Court yesterday three of the men - gang leader Maurice Smith, 56, of Craika Road, Dearham, his son Martin Smith, 37, of Lonsdale Terrace, Dearham and Ashley Macauley, 25, of Westnewton Road, Aspatria, were sentenced by Judge James Adkin.

Maurice Smith was jailed for four years for conspiracy to steal. Martin Smith was jailed for seven years for conspiracy to burgle and Macauley for four years and three months for conspiracy to steal.

Prosecutor Andrew Ford said: “It was a conspiracy that covered the whole of Cumbria and as far east as Yorkshire. There were 26 or 27 events - the targets being cash points in rural areas which depend on these facilities. hey targeted cash points at premises they thought vulnerable.”

An attack on Aldi in Whitehaven on October 17 was the gang’s only success.

CCTV played in the court showed the cash machine being taken through the wall and out to a waiting car. The cash machine contained £66,010 in cash.

Mr Ford said: “The car, with the ATM in the boot, was driven to Weddicar Hall, near Keekle, where it was smashed open and split.”

Another attack on Aldi in Cockermouth took place on December 5, 2017.

Mr Ford said: “This cash point contained £118,000 but none was obtained.

“The gang used a farmer’s red tractor that had been stolen in a high end burglary from a farm. They fixed a strap over the ATM but were unable to yank it through the wall.”

At Home Bargains in Whitehaven on February 27, 2018, the men were disturbed.

Mr Ford said: “They had drilled the steel behind the cash point and removed it in a perfect square. It was a sophisticated crime in that they re-routed the town centre electricity to power their tools. The attack failed.”

In Silloth, on March 14, 2018, a “very serious” attack took place at the town’s Spar shop.

Mr Ford said: “A green JCB - worth £25,000 - was stolen from a farm in a high end burglary. The gang drove the machine into the shop at night causing devastation.

“The shop was left unstable and dangerously unsafe and when police arrived the JCB’s engine was still running. The ATM contained £87,720 but nothing was taken.”

The court was shown CCTV of members of the gang in action checking out the cash machines in supermarkets, banks and at Newton Rigg College, near Penrith.

David Wales for Maurice Smith said: “My client was arrested a month before the conspiracy came to an end so it’s clear that it was capable of running without him.”

Brendan Burke, for Martin Smith, said: “He was less important than his father.”

Peter Woodall, for Macauley, said: “He deeply regrets his actions. Upon his release he will cease his criminal lifestyle.”

The others being sentenced are: Dillon Broderick, 22, of Main Street, Ellenborough, Maryport; John Thompson, 26, of Harriston, Aspatria; Zane Tinkler, 27, of Brunswick Square, Penrith; Steven Smith, 33, of Dearham; Scott Walpole, 28, of Central Road, Dearham.