ONE of Hampshire's most prolific burglary gangs has been jailed for a total of 17 years for targeting more than 70 homes and stealing £500,000 worth of high-value cars.

Theo Smithard-Powell, his girlfriend Ellis McMillan and Dale Ward were all sent to prison for their part in the conspiracy which left victims feeling vulnerable and unsafe in their own homes.

Southampton Crown Court heard how 21-year-old Smithard-Powell crept into scores of homes across the south while the occupants - including children - were asleep upstairs, to steal high-value cars and valuable items.

During a six-month spree he had targeted 72 homes in Hampshire and admitted targeting a further 14 homes in Berkshire.

He was sentenced to a total of ten years for his part in both conspiracies, while McMillan, 18, was sentenced to three years for her part in the Hampshire crimes and Ward was handed four years for his involvement in the Hampshire conspiracy to steal.

Judge Gary Burrell said: "This was an extremely serious and professional conspiracy.

"It is difficulty to envisage a more serious catalogue of burglaries.

"These types of burglaries create misery for the occupants who have to go through a significant inconvenience."

He added that Smithard-Powell had "perfected" the method of entry and that everybody deserves to go to bed at not and not expect to be burgled.

Judge Burrell also commended Detective Constable Donna Kay for her dedication and hard work during the investigation.

The court heard several homes were targeted in one night, which had been picked out because there were high-value cars parked outside and had UPVC doors.

Using tools he had bought with his then 17-year old girlfriend McMillan, he would “pop open” doors while occupants slept unawares upstairs.

He was helped further by McMillan who would book hotels for him while he carried out his raids and book taxis for him to get to and from his crime scenes.

Ward would receive the cars up in at his home in Mottingham, south London, where they would then be distributed onwards from there.

It was in July last year when officers caught up with him at his home in Cambridge Court in Southampton, raiding the flat he shared with McMillan.

Daily Echo: Ellis McMillan, Dale Ward and Theo Smithard-Powell.

At Southampton Crown Court, prosecutor Richard Onslow said some of the victims had been left “unable to sleep” following the thefts, with one victim even looking to move as a consequence.

Smithard-Powell had pleaded guilty to all three charges and had previously pleaded guilty to the “cluster of burglaries” with two other defendants in Berkshire.

The court heard how he had been in and out of prison since he was 14, suffers from mental health issues and attempted to kill himself several times in the past year.

McMillan, who used to work at Next in Southampton, and Ward were convicted by a jury last week of conspiring to steal with Smithard-Powell.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to burglary but was acquitted of handling stolen goods.

Ward was found guilty of conspiracy to steal.