Gang in £1m car-ringing plot jailed

Seven men were variously responsible for the theft, storage and dismantling of dozens of high value cars.

The sophisticated and professional operation targeted BMWs and Mercedes which were stolen to order. Passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, Judge Simon Drew QC said they made potentially £1 million from the car-ringing. He said an aggravating feature was ringleader Jangeer Khan and two others had been involved shortly after being released from prison.

Khan, 30, of Bush Close, Dothill, Telford, was jailed for 40 months for conspiring to steal cars. He was given a further 10 months for being concerned in the supply of cannabis and a public order offence.

His 22-year-old nephew, Adnan Khan, of Manor Road, Hadley, was jailed for a year for conspiring to handle stolen cars and two months concurrent for the public order incident. He had also admitted being part of a separate conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Telford for which he was jailed for a further five years. Ten other men involved in the drugs plot were all jailed this year.

John Allen, 25, of Spout Way, Malinslee, was jailed for two years for the conspiracy to steal cars and a further four months for being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was a mechanic employed by Philip Vernon, 30, whose business, Shropshire BMW at Lamledge Lane, Shifnal, was used to rebuild damaged vehicles. Vernon, of Aston Road, Shifnal, was jailed for two years.

Peter Dutton, 33, also had a factory unit at Lamledge Lane. Police recovered £25,000 worth of car parts at the premises and at his home in Marton Drive, Wellington. He was jailed for 21 months.

Farraqh Hadiat, 30, and Mohammed Shakeel, 25, both from Birmingham, were also part of the conspiracy to steal cars.

Applications for confiscation orders under the Proceeds Of Crime Act against all the defendants will be heard in February.