Four men have been jailed for more than 10 years after they caused over £2,000 worth of damage as they burgled a Chesham motorcycle shop.

Overnight on January 27 to 28, the group of men cut through a fence, smashed in windows, searched an office and cut their way into a metal container in the Chesham business.

The group also broke into a shed in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Both premises were owned by the same person. It is thought that the group targeted this person in the hope of stealing a quad bike which had been advertised on Facebook Marketplace.

A Mercedes Sprinter van used on the night of the Northamptonshire crimes was found to be on false number plates, having previously been stolen from Kent in 2017 by persons unknown.

Two of the men, Gavin Burnett and John Haley were charged with taking the van without consent on February 26, with Gavin Burnett, who drove the van on that date, also charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Gavin Burnett, of Berrywood Close, Northampton, was jailed for three years and 10 months for conspiracy to commit burglary, taking a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. He was further disqualified from driving for 35 months.

Darren Burnett, of Fort Place, Northampton, was jailed for two years for conspiracy to commit burglary.

John Haley, of Farmhill Road, Northampton, was jailed for two years and four months for conspiracy to commit burglary and taking a vehicle without consent. He was also recalled to prison over burglary and theft charges from 2016.

Mark Robins, of Brickwell Court, Northampton, was jailed for two years and four months for conspiracy to commit burglary.

Investigator Victoria Stather, of the East Midland Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said: “I’m pleased with the sentences, which reflect the distress and inconvenience caused to the victims of these offences.

“Their actions show these criminals to be grasping and opportunistic, taking a legitimate advert for a quad bike as an invitation to try and steal it. Seeing them jailed for this greedy and entitled attitude should serve as a warning to those who seek to take what isn’t theirs – there are real consequences and we will pursue you to see justice done.”