A CRIMINAL jailed for his involvement in a daring ATM ram raid plot has received another prison term, for handling stolen goods worth almost £10,000.

Scott David Martin Walpole, 29, was one of eight men locked up in April following a “sophisticated” bid to target cash machines in north and west Cumbria.

The gang - handed jail terms totalling almost four decades - were involved in a year-long plot up to September last year.

This led to only one raid in which an ATM was actually stolen. But it also involved a number of failed attacks, which left destruction in their wake and caused damage costing thousands of pounds.

After admitting conspiracy to steal, Walpole received a prison sentence of 51 months from a judge at Carlisle Crown Court.

The 29-year-old serving prisoner, latterly of East Crescent, Aspatria, appeared again at the court yesterday over a video link.

He admitted six counts of handling stolen goods - including quad bikes, tools and other equipment valued at about £9,700 - dating back to early to mid-2017.

Prosecutor Alaric Walmsley told how police, in late July that year, stopped a van driven by another man at about 4.30am in Aspatria.

“Police felt he was being evasive. They searched his van. It contained nothing,” said Mr Walmsley. “He was allowed to proceed on his way.”

But aware of previous farm burglaries, officers decided to keep watching the vehicle from a distance.

It was followed to a property in the Aspatria area and seen leaving at around 5.45pm. It was stopped again and found to contain a quad bike and a saw.

Following a search of that address, quad bike, power tools and other stolen equipment was recovered, and Walpole was arrested.

For this offending, Judge James Adkin gave Walpole an eight-month jail term, to be served concurrently.