A GANG of thieves have been jailed after stealing a huge number of cars.

Alan Dunwoody, Ryan Dunwoody and Mark Strutt were locked up at Chester Crown Court last week after admitting a range of offences.

The trio and co-defendant Mark Ford, who was spared an immediate prison sentence, targeted homes and business across Cheshire – including premises in Warrington, Northwich, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Congleton, Sandbach – as well as in Stockport and Altrincham.

They primarily targeted Fiat Abarths but also stole vehicles including a Ford Focus, a Vauxhall Corse and two Fiat Ducato car transporters during at least 19 incidents between June 2018 and April 2020.

Thirty-eight-year-old Alan Dunwoody, of Wythenshawe, and 42-year-old Strutt, of Stockport, were each jailed for four years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal on Tuesday, May 11.

Warrington Guardian:

Alan Dunwoody

Ryan Dunwoody, of no fixed address, admitted theft and was handed 22 months behind bars.

Warrington Guardian:

Ryan Dunwoody

And 23-year-old Ford, of Manchester, was given a 20-month imprisonment suspended for two years after admitting conspiracy to commit burglary.

Detective constable Andrew Street said: “Throughout this investigation, it was clear that this gang had no boundaries.

“Even at the height of lockdown, the gang had the audacity to steal four vehicles in one night from a garage on the outskirts of Northwich – which had a value of £92,000.

Warrington Guardian:

Mark Strutt

“Thankfully, as a result of our investigation the gang are now facing the consequences of their actions.

“As this case demonstrates, we are relentless in our pursuit against criminals and I hope that the sentences handed to this group provide reassurance to local residents and act as a warning to other offenders who are planning to come to Cheshire to commit crime.”

Charges against two other alleged co-conspirators – 39-year-old Stephen Strutt, from Stalybridge, and 30-year-old Aaron Stubbs, from Manchester – were ordered to lie on file after being convicted of the murder of Warren Glover in St Helens.

Both were sentenced to life in prison with minimum terms of 20 and 21-and-a-half years at Liverpool Crown Court last month.

A seventh defendant – 39-year-old Gary Jackson, from Manchester – has been charged with conspiracy to steal in connection with the ring and is due to stand trial at Chester Crown Court later this year.