Jagjit Dhiman jailed for his part in plot to smuggle high-value stolen cars out of the country from Southampton Docks

The cars had been stolen from across the south east, their identities hidden and were about to be shipped to Kenya from Southampton.

But the plan was foiled just hours before the cars, worth almost £30,000, were lost forever.

Today mechanic Jagjit Dhiman, who stripped the cars of their registration plates and identification numbers, is behind bars.

But the leader of the operation, Riyadh Mbarak, is today on the run after fleeing the country before he faced his sentence.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the cars were discovered inside a container at the port, ready to be shipped to Mombassa – birthplace of Mbarak.

Behind Bars: Mechanic Jagjit Dhiman

Detective Constable Nathan Ricketts flagged up his suspicions about the container and opened it to find a Range Rover Sport and a Mercedes E220.

He then discovered the vehicle registration numbers (VINs) had been hidden by false ones and the cars had been fitted with fake number plates.

It was soon revealed the Range Rover had been stolen during a house burglary a few weeks previously and the Mercedes had been taken in a violent robbery during which a taxi driver was knocked unconscious.

Paperwork for the shipment on October 29, 2012, led police to Ricroc Travel and Logistics, in Middlesex, which was owned by 34-year-old Mbarak, who was quick to protest his innocence, insisting he was just an “innocent freight forwarder”.

However, when fingerprints on the false number plates identified 34-year-old Dhiman, he admitted he had put the plates on the cars and had worked with Mbarak.

Texts between the two men, which included photos of the stolen cars and messages about changing windscreens, further helped police to build their case.

Judge Peter Ralls was told Mbarak had fled the country to Kenya, via Sweden, Norway and Qatar, after both men pleaded guilty to two counts of handling stolen goods, on the first day of the trial in July last year.

Interpol confirmed he had arrived in Kenya and has so far not returned, despite his partner and children still living in Middlesex.

Sentencing him to three years in prison, in his absence, Judge Ralls said Mbarak was “undoubtedly the leader” who “orchestrated” the plan.

On the run: Riyadh Mbarak fled to Kenya

Baljit Somal, defending Dhiman, told the court his client had been “caught up in this web of criminality” and made a “wrong decision”.

He urged the judge not to imprison Dhiman as he and his wife had recently lost their child, who was born prematurely, and that the couple were undergoing further IVF treatment. Judge Ralls sentenced Dhiman, of Middlesex, to 21 months in prison, adding: “This crime of handling stolen goods in this way was sophisticated.

“I accept he has a lesser role in this activity but nevertheless a vital role. He was well aware of what was going on and I am satisfied that he was very much in partnership with Mr Mbarak in this enterprise.”

A stolen Mercedes was found in a container at Southampton docks

Speaking after the sentencing Det Con Ricketts said: “We hope this sentence sends a clear message to anyone thinking that Southampton is an easy route to get stolen cars out of the country – it is not.

“No matter how big or small the shipment is, we are working all the time to ensure those who are part of these sophisticated groups are caught and brought to justice.

“We take this very seriously.”