A CRIME gang which made more than £1million by targeting cash machines across the country, including three in Berkshire, have been jailed.

It is believed that the five men made more than £1,000,000 and caused more than £200,000 worth of damage during the ATM attacks, which took place between June 2017 and September 2018.

The group used specialist cutting equipment, stolen from fire stations, to force entry into stores and attack the cash machines.

The incidents in Berkshire happened on Thursday, May 31, when the Londis in Great Hollands Square in Bracknell, McColls in West End Road, Mortimer and Emmer Green Post in Cavendish Road, were targeted.

The group committed their offences in ten police force areas, including Thames Valley, West Mercia, Staffordshire, Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire and Derbyshire.

Following an investigation by West Mercia Police, the men were jailed for a total of more than 32 years at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday, April 5.

The men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and converting criminal property.

Khan also pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property.

Michael Solomon Stubbs, 32, of Asheridge Close, Wednesfield, has been sentenced to 6 years 8 months; Noel Anthony Reilly, 39 of Wychall Lane, Birmingham, has been sentenced to 7 years 6 months; Martin Steadman, 24 of Luce Road, Low Hill, Wolverhampton has been sentenced to 7 years 6 months; Mohammed Maneer Khan, 31 of Great Hampton Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton has been sentenced to 4 years 10 months and Marcus Burton, 33 of May Farm Close, Hollywood, Birmingham, has been sentenced to 5 years 10 months.

Serious Crime Prevention orders were also granted against Steadman, Stubbs, Reilly and Burton.

These will place a number of restrictions on the defendants when they are released from prison and are designed to protect the public.

Detective chief inspector Gavin Kinrade was the senior investigating officer.

He said: "The offenders were part of an organised crime group responsible for a string of ATM attacks across the UK which netted them a considerable amount of cash.

"The gang were motivated by greed and gave no consideration to the damage and destruction they left behind.

"These crimes had a huge impact on the local community with many of the cash machines the group targeted the only source of withdrawing cash for people in the area, some of which haven't been replaced.

"Not only that the group were prepared to use violence to commit the offences and stole vital specialist life-saving equipment from fire stations with total disregard to the public.

"This was a complex and challenging investigation and I would like to congratulate my team for bringing the matter to a successful conclusion.

"I would also like to thank colleagues at the other police forces who supported our investigation and assisted in collating evidence."