A vehicle ‘ringing’ gang has been sentenced after a major police operation uncovered they were handling stolen vehicles and selling them on to unsuspecting buyers in a criminal operation worth more than £750,000.

The five men were identified through an investigation which was launched by the Metropolitan Police Organised Vehicle Crime Unit when a stolen Ford Transit was traced to an industrial estate in Swanley in July 2015.

When they arrived at the site, officers found 34 stolen vans that were in the process of either being stripped for parts, or identification numbers and markings being swapped for vehicles that were not shown as stolen.

Danny Sheehy and Leslie Daniels were both arrested at the premises, although a third man – later identified as Ricky Mantell – managed to make off from officers.

Further inquiries led officers to another industrial unit in Rettendon in Essex in November 2015 and detectives arrested both Lee Bridge and Danny Orgles after they found a further eight stolen Transit vans at the site.

However, while on police bail, Sheehy, Mantell, Bridge and Orgles returned to the site in Swanley and continued to receive and dismantle stolen vans. In December 2015, officers raided the site again and found another 13 stolen vehicles, with officers arresting Mantell in the process.

Officers also traced a number of stolen vehicles that had been sold on to unsuspecting buyers. In total, the gang handled 74 stolen vehicles - 62 of which were Ford Transits - with a total value of £789,000.

The five men were charged in December 2015 with conspiracy to handle stolen vehicles and pleaded guilty at the Inner London Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Caroline Clooney, of the Met’s Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, said: “This was a well-organised gang of criminals who were handling stolen Ford Transit vans to break up for parts or to sell on to innocent purchasers.

"Their activity fuelled the theft of Transit vans across the south east London and Kent area. The impact on the victims was significant as they relied on their vehicle for their livelihood, so this sentence is good news for van owners across the region.”

Danny Sheehy, 34, of Manor Road, Sidcup, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to handle stolen vehicles.

Ricky Mantell, 31 ,of Overton Road, Abbey Wood, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to handle stolen vehicles.

Lee Bridges, 39, of Randlesdown Road, Bellingham was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to handle stolen vehicles.

Danny Orgles, 21, of Randlesdown Road, Bellingham, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to handle stolen vehicles.

Leslie Daniels, 28 , of Commonwealth Way, Abbey Wood was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months for conspiracy to handle stolen vehicles.