Two men behind a bike stealing operation in Swale and Medway have been jailed.

William Holden, 33, and Melvern Silcott, 28, were each locked-up for two years and nine months at Maidstone Crown Court last week.

The duo took more than 60 cycles over a year-long period from outside railway stations, shops and other locations before selling them on to other criminals in London.

They were snared as part of joint investigation between Kent Police, British Transport officers and London’s Met.

Officers first came into contact with them on September 8 last year when Silcott was spotted riding a mountain bike that was too small for him along the A2 at Newington.

When they followed him, he led them straight to Holden on a train platform where they seized the stolen bicycle.

It was then discovered to be worth around £600 and had been taken from Sittingbourne station earlier that day.

Two weeks later, police arrested the pair after carrying out early-morning raids at their houses on the Island.

At Holden’s home in Granville Road, Sheerness, officers discovered wire croppers, bike tools, a saddle stem, safety lights and numerous broken security locks.

Silcott, of Lapwing Close, Minster, was in possession of receipt detailing the sale of a stolen bike to a second-hand shop, which further enquiries showed he had sold a quantity of cycles to.

Police also found a bike multi-tool and six lights in a car parked on his driveway, which was later established to have been used to transport the stolen goods to London and Essex.

Investigating officer Det Con Iain Joyce said: “This was clearly an organised operation with many victims throughout Medway and Swale, most of whom will unfortunately never be reunited with their property.

“I’d like to thank everyone who worked with us to get to the bottom of this long and complex investigation – including our colleagues at the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police – to help ensure justice was served on these two individuals.”