Andrew Wayne Jones stole machinery and quad bikes from farms every other day

At the height of the crimewave, Andrew Wayne Jones, from Darlington, would travel to North Yorkshire every other day to steal a vehicle or piece of farm machinery.

The 26-year-old was frequently seen staking out a target, before returning with hired hands to finish the job.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Jones, of Hundens Lane, admitted stealing 15 quad bikes, two trial bikes and a power washer, and one attempted theft. He also admitted a house burglary, and was jailed for four years.

Judge Brian Forster said: “Your activities have been a plague upon families doing the best they can to make a living.”

The court heard that Jones would steal the bikes, then hide them nearby to be picked up later, or would drive them away, sometimes in daylight.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said the bikes, most of which were worth about £4,000, would then be sold, with Jones taking a share of £100.

At Eppleby, near Richmond, in January last year, a seven-year-old boy caught Jones in a shed attempting to steal his motorbike.

The alarm was raised, but Jones made off.

Jonathan Walker, in mitigation, said his client had been battling a cocaine habit at the time, which was now under control.

Also jailed yesterday were Brian Robson, 37, of Shakespeare Road, Darlington, who admitted two charges of handling stolen goods, and Kye Boyes, 25, of Wharfe Way, Darlington, who pleaded guilty to one charge of handling stolen goods.

Robson was sentenced to 36 weeks in jail, and Boyes was told he would serve 16 weeks.

John Gillett, for Robson, said: “He was hired as a very last-minute pair of hands, and not the most reliable pair of hands at that, given his reputation as a drunk.”

Boyes was caught in Richmond with one of the stolen bikes in the back of his pickup truck.

His barrister, Martin Towers, said he was not involved in the theft and had only been there because he owed money to “a gipsy called Alfie” for a £600 dog.