Jail for gang caught in undercover police sting

Operation Ivanhoe began with officers identifying crooks dealing in stolen items, particularly online, and then posing as buyers to gain their trust.

That led them back to criminals involved in 15 burglaries, mainly in Leeds.

During the operation they purchased more than £200,000 worth of stolen property including valuable cars and electrical items, generally paying only about 10 per cent of the value of the property, with the meetings recorded on hidden cameras.

Jailing eight men at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said they had been involved in a “campaign of professional burglary”, a crime that caused misery for householders.

Kieran Smith, 21, of Bayswater Mount, Harehills, who admitted theft, handling and conspiracy to burgle was jailed for six years, nine months.

Ryan Dunwell, 27, of Queens Road, Morley, who pleaded guilty to burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and conspiracy to burgle was jailed for a total of seven years, six months.

Dean Carl Smith, 27, of Stonegate Farm Close, Meanwood Park, Leeds, was jailed for six years, two months after he admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and conspiracy to burgle.

Kristopher David Kennedy, 24, of Christopher Road, Wortley, Leeds, admitted conspiracy to handle stolen goods and conspiracy to burgle and was jailed for six years.

Matthew Anthony Smith, 23, of Tetley Hall, Moor Road, Headingley, Leeds was jailed for six years after he admitted conspiracy to burgle.

Marcus Henry, 27, of Boggart Hill, Seacroft, was jailed for three years nine months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to burgle.

Ashley Holmes, 19, of Blands Avenue, Allerton Bywater, near Leeds was sent to a young offender institution for 21 months and Dominic Thompson, 21, of Banbury Road, Pontefract was jailed for 20 months after both admitted conspiracy to burgle.

Their victims included a disabled man whose £35,000 Mercedes was taken from outside his home in Alwoodley, Leeds after he was burgled while he slept and a family who lost precious photographs of their children on the hard drive of their laptop stolen in a burglary last December in Moortown, Leeds.

The judge commended the police team involved. Chief Superintendent Dave Oldroyd said his message to other burglars was: “Keep looking over your shoulder because chances are it will be you next.”