A VEHICLE ringing gang used Rettendon as a base to hide stolen vans in a £750,000 criminal enterprise before being caught red-handed by police.

The group were responsible for handling dozens of stolen vehicles and selling them on to unsuspecting buyers.

The Metropolitan Police’s vehicle crime unit traced a stolen Ford Transit to an industrial estate in Swanley, Kent, 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, 34, of Manor Road, Sidcup, and Leslie Daniels, 28, of Commonwealth Way, Abbey Wood, were both arrested at the premises, although a third man - later identified as Ricky Mantell, 31, of Overton Road, Abbey Wood - managed to make off from officers.

Further enquiries led officers to another industrial unit in Rettendon in November 2015.

Detectives arrested both Lee Bridges, 39 of Randlesdown Road, Bellingham, and Danny Orgles, 39 of Randlesdown Road, Bellingham, 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.

Through their enquiries 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.

Det Insp 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."

Sheehy was jailed for four-and-a-half years, Mantell was sentenced to three years, and Bridges got two-and-a-half years.

Orgles was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and Daniels was handed four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.