Frederick Squires, 38, from Swaffham in Norfolk and the 16-year-old teenager and a third man, who has yet to be sentenced, were found hiding in a hollow tree by a police helicopter using thermal imaging equipment.

Their first target in the early hours of March 4 was the Post Office in Shepshed, Leicestershire, when they pumped gas into the ATM and lit a fuse to try and blow it out of the wall.

When that failed they drove to the Jet garage in Adwick near Doncaster around 3.15am the same day. This time they succeeded in stealing £35,130.

A third ATM was targeted unsuccessfully at the ATM at the Co-op in Starbeck near Harrogate shortly after 1am on March 6.

Four days later their stolen car was spotted near York by officers who followed as it reached speeds of over 100mph.

It then drove the wrong way round a roundabout and the wrong side of the A64 before being seen to crash into car park barriers at the McArthur Glen York Designer Outlet.

Police eventually caught up with the trio close to the River Ouse.

Squires was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison and was disqualified from driving for seven years after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to commit burglaries, conspiracy to cause explosions and aggravated vehicle taking.

The teenager, from Doncaster, who was charged with the first two offences, received a two-year detention and training order, after being found guilty following a trial.

North Yorkshire Police Detective Superintendent, Fran Naughton, said their actions had been extremely dangerous, particularly on the garage forecourt, and showed no regard for the safety of neighbours.

She said: "The attacks also caused extensive damage to the businesses targeted and meant these vital local services were unavailable for the community whilst being repaired.

“Added to all of this are the highly irresponsible actions of the driver as they fled from the police, endangering the lives of many road users and causing further damage.

“This has been an extensive investigation, supported through SaferCash (a security initiative hosted by the British Security Industry Association) and the companies affected by these crimes with many lines of enquiry progressed to ensure these offenders face the consequences of their actions."

Raiders who blew up ATMs and stole £35,000 found hiding in hollow tree by police helicopter