A group of burglars linked to ram-raids and break-ins across Gravesend and Medway have been jailed.

Jacob Winnett, 23, of Hyacinth Road, Strood, Lee Hutton, 31, of Wrotham Road, Gravesend, Scott Parker, 33, of Poplar Avenue, Gravesend and Daniel Lincoln, 28, of Elmwood Road, Chattenden, were all charged with conspiracy to burgle after a string of 12 offences in June and July last year.

Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate were able to connect at least one member of the group to each of the reported incidents.

The court heard how the following offences were linked by the investigation team:

• An attempted burglary at Jassals Mini Store in Livingstone Road, Gravesend, at 1.30am on Saturday, June 11, 2016. Three men were seen attempting to force open the back door of the premises but they ran off when shouted at by a resident who saw them from his window.

• A break-in at a Copperfields pub on the A226 in Shorne, at 2.30am on Saturday, June 11. A fruit machine was smashed and its cash dispenser containing an unknown amount stolen from the premises. Shortly afterwards a car made off from officers nearby and was forensically linked to Hutton and Parker when it was recovered later that month. Fragments of glass from the pub were also found in the footwell.

• A burglary at Buckmore Park karting circuit on Maidstone Road, Chatham, at 11.25pm on Monday, June 27 2016. A window had been smashed and the security shutters forced open, with three crash helmets stolen. Hutton was shown on CCTV as being present with three other men at the time, with one of the helmets found during a search of his home address.

• A break-in at a Time Electrical wholesalers on Medway City Estate, Strood, at 12.50am on Tuesday, June 28 2016. Entry to the property was forced and a van stolen along with a quantity of cash. Hutton was again shown on CCTV as being present with other men.

• A burglary at Lakeside Cafe at Capstone Park, Capstone Road, Chatham, at 2.10am on Tuesday, June 28. A window had been forced open and money stolen from the cash register. A Volkswagen Beetle parked nearby was seized as it contained bolt croppers, a sledgehammer and other tools, and was later forensically linked to Parker, Hutton and Winnett. It was also found to have been used in two of the previous offences.

VIDEO: CCTV of the burlgary at a business on the Imperial Business Estate, Gravesend, at 12.55am on Tuesday, July 5. Credit: Kent Police

• A break-in at a the Cyclopark in Wrotham Road, Gravesend, at 2.10am on Friday, July 1. Entry to the property had been forced and cash and CCTV equipment stolen from within. A red Vauxhall Corsa appeared to have been used in the offence, which was believed to have been spotted at a service station shortly beforehand with Hutton and Winnett inside.

• The theft of a Toyota Hilux from Woodfield Road, Gravesend, at 10.50pm on Sunday, July 3.

• An incident in which the same Toyota Hilux was used to ram the Shell service station shop on Rochester Road, Gravesend, at 11.15pm on Sunday, July 3. The men left empty-handed after part of the building collapsed. A jacket was left near to the scene that was forensically linked to Parker.

• A burglary at Screwfix on the Imperial Business Estate, Gravesend, at 12.55am on Tuesday, July 5. The Toyota Hilux was again used to ram the security shutters but nothing was reported stolen. Forensic and phone evidence linked the suspects to the incident.

• Interference to a 4x4 in Hyacinth Road, Strood, at 11.30pm on Monday, July 25. A resident saw two men attempting to break into his car but they ran off after he shouted at them. A screwdriver was left at the scene that was forensically linked to Parker.

• Interference to the same vehicle at 11.30pm on Friday, July 29. The offenders again failed to steal the vehicle.

• Theft of a silver 4x4 from Essex Road, Gravesend, between 9.45pm on Friday, July 29 and 6am on Sunday, July 31.

Hutton and Parker were arrested at the beginning of August 2016 after they were found in the stolen 4x4, and were re-arrested at the end of September. They were charged and remanded in custody.

In October, Winnett and Lincoln were interviewed. Officers had collated a large amount of information from the defendants’ mobile phones, such as text messages suggesting possible locations, and the mobile phones being used shortly after one of the offences to review information on the Kent Police website.

Prosecutor Charlotte Newell said: “During a relatively short space of time commercial premises were targeted by this organised gang, using a variety of cars, including stolen cars, which were then disposed of.

“This is a conspiracy that involves 12 substantive offences and two defendants were arrested while on their way to commit another.”

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said the conspiracy involved organised planning and the raiders working as a team.

He added that the “sheer scale” of the criminality involved put it at the height of sentencing guidelines.

“Ramraids have been described as an affront to modern society and they are the most serious offences,” said the judge.

The raid at the petrol station on July 3 last year forced it to close and caused a total loss in sales and damage of £30,000.

Miss Newell said: “The vehicle rammed the wall and one man was seen wearing a Superdry jacket and gloves which were later found nearby and on which DNA from Scott Parker was found.

“They had sought to break through the wall of the office which is where the safes are situated, suggesting that this was something that had been ascertained earlier and involved significant planning.

“However, the ram raid caused so much damage that the safes were covered in rubble and not easily attainable.

“The men attempted to enter the premises but the safes were not stolen and the Toyota made off, screeching away from the scene.”

The Toyota was abandoned the following night at the Screwfix ramraid.

The group, who admitted the offences, were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court earlier today. Parker was jailed for five and half years, Hutton for five years, Winnett for four years seven months and Lincoln to two years and eight months.

Hutton and Parker were also both disqualified from driving - Parker for 69 months and Hutton for 66 months.

DC Helen King from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "In the execution of these offences the offenders caused large amounts of damage to businesses that were simply earning an honest living.

"Technology such as mobile phone evidence and movements that were recorded on automatic number plate recognition cameras has helped us secure these convictions and put these burglars behind bars."