TWO brothers who were members of a highly-organised gang which carried out a series of ram-raids have failed to win a cut in their jail terms.

Brian, 32, and Ronald Thexton, 24, both of Witton Park, Bishop Auckland, were part of a seven-strong gang that struck across the North and Scotland, making off with a total of £350,000 in cash and causing £120,000-worth of damage.

The men - dubbed the "hole in the wall gang" - used stolen forklift trucks to smash cash machines out of walls before loading them on to stolen flatbed lorries during nine raids between 2005 and 2006, the Court of Appeal in London heard.

Dozens of high-value cars, tractors and trailers, vans, lorries and bulldozers, as well as two-way radios, were stolen in the months leading up to the raids - bringing the bill to more than £1m.

The gang struck twice in North Yorkshire, at Escrick and Ingleton, and once in Langley Moor, County Durham.

Other raids took place in Dumfries and Galloway, Cumbria, Lancashire and the Lothian and Borders area.

Brian Thexton, the gang's ringleader, admitted being involved in six of the attacks, and receiving £133,000.

Ronald Thexton said he was involved in five ram-raids, and had handled a stolen digger. He admitted he gained £160,000.

The men, both of Park Road, Witton Park, each admitted conspiracy to burgle last October. Brian was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and Ronald to four years and nine months.

During their appearance at Teesside Crown Court, Peter Johnson, prosecuting, said the attacks "bore the hallmark of a professional outfit, involving careful logistical planning and reconnaissance".

He added that high-value vehicles were stolen to order and on many occasions torched after the raid, while police cars parked at nearby police stations had punctured or slashed tyres.

At the Appeal Court yesterday, lawyers representing both the brothers argued their sentences were "manifestly excessive".

But Mrs Justice Rafferty said: "In our judgement, this was very serious criminality.

"It was sophisticated - there were nine attacks and six successes and very considerable damage.

"For all these reasons, it seems to us that the sentencing judge dealt appropriately with both of these men and we see no reason to interfere with the terms imposed."

She dismissed the appeal.

The other seven members of the gang all received sentences ranging from four years to nine months for the parts they played in the raids.

They were: Stuart Henderson, 43, of Douglas Villas, Durham City, jailed for 18 months; Joseph Thexton, 42, of Park Road, Witton Park, jailed for four years; Michael Smith, 27, of Albion Terrace, Bishop Auckland, jailed for 12 months; Carl Thexton, 29, of Park Road, Witton Park, jailed for 15 months; Carl Fitzgerald, 23, of The Crescent, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, jailed for two years; Malcolm Readman, 26, of Lambton Street, Middlesbrough, jailed for nine months and Brett Simpson, 24, of Ashford Gardens, Bishop Auckland, jailed for 12 months.