A plot to carry out ram raids on cash dispensers was foiled after police launched a covert operation.

A secret camera was placed at the home of one of the main conspirators, Steven Davenport, and a listening probe was hidden in his car.

The devices revealed that he and father-of-seven Anthony Pemberthy were planning a smash and grab on a supermarket ATM in Peasmarsh, West Sussex.

Officers swooped and arrested the pair, along with Michael Turner, before the raid could be carried out.

The operation also uncovered a large cannabis factory in a unit at Lower Knowle Farm in Ulcombe, near Maidstone, being run by Davenport and Dean Payne.

After being court red-handed, Davenport, of Fairbourne Lane, Harrietsham, Pemberthy, of Green Lane, Langley, and Turner, of Tilden Close, High Halden, admitted conspiracy to burgle between February 18 and March 31 this year.

Davenport, a grandfather, and Payne, of Beacon Road, Lenham, admitted producing cannabis. Pemberthy also admitted aggravated car-taking and dangerous driving.

Davenport, 54, was sentenced to a total of six years - three years and nine months for the conspiracy and two years and seven months consecutive for the cannabis offence.

Pemberthy, 37, was sentenced to a total to four years and five months - three-and-a-half years for the conspiracy, three months for the driving offences and eight months for breaching a suspended sentence, all consecutive.

Turner, 59, was sentenced to three years and Payne to two-and-a-half years.

Prosecutor Andrew Espley said as well as planning the Peasmarsh raid, there were discussions about other “attacks” on ATMs in Biddenden and Sutton Valence.

The targets were to be near building sites so that JCBs could be taken to smash into buildings. They also wanted to carry them out in windy conditions to drown out the noise which would be generated.

Mr Espley said cars were targeted for use in the raid on what was termed as “the prize”, including a 4x4 which would be used to ram police vehicles that might chase them.

The covert camera was set up at Davenport’s home, called Ponderosa. That and the probe in his Vauxhall Vectra car made the case overwhelming, Mr Espley told Maidstone Crown Court.

A total of 120 cannabis seedlings were discovered at the farm on March 31. Experts were unable to state what the yield would be.

The arrests were made the same day. Pemberthy told police: “I have been fitted up.”

Dean Payne, 36, of Beacon Road, Lenham, also pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and was sentenced to two years and eight months' imprisonment.

Both he and Davenport were arrested on March 31 – the same day officers discovered more than 200 cannabis plants at a farm building in Ulcombe, near Maidstone.