A NOTORIOUS gang of criminals led by "The Fagan of the Forest" have been jailed for 12 years.

Their crimes ranged from attempted shed break-ins to high-value burglaries.

In one case police said they even attacked a resident who tried to stop them.

Three of the men – Connor Smith, Liam Annetts and Miguel Pacheco – were jailed at Gloucester Crown Court for a combined total of 12 years for their involvement in the burglaries.

A fourth man, Craig Jenkins, 25, was handed a community order.

During the police investigation – codenamed Operation Timor – warrants were executed at a string of addresses.

This led police to recover property stolen from burglaries and thefts in the Forest of Dean, including expensive quad bikes, a ride-on lawnmower, power tools and garden machinery.

PC Emma Woodward, officer in charge of the investigation, said: "Operation Timor was set up to tackle a prolific group of criminals who were travelling widely across the Forest of Dean and neighbouring areas to locate, identify and target properties.

Operation

"The chaotic nature of their offending made the operation against them extremely difficult.

"Regardless of the crime, many people's lives have been impacted by the actions of these men, whether emotionally or financially."

Detective Inspector Kevin McCloskey, the senior investigating officer for the case, said: "This operation was complex and lengthy. The fact that all four men pleaded guilty is a testament to the high quality of evidence that was gathered over a period of time.

"This success demonstrates the efforts of the officers who worked on this case and Gloucestershire Constabulary as a whole to tackle organised crime, regardless of the difficulties it may present.

"Nobody is untouchable and we will continue to work hard to identify similar groups of organised offenders and disrupt their criminal behaviour."

Police said the gang's ringleader was Connor Smith, of Oakle Street, Minsterworth – who they said was known as 'The Fagan of the Forest'.

Although the investigation was launched in 2008, Detective Sergeant Rob Harding said Smith's name had been known to the force for many years.

He said: "He's been a target for years and years.

"His will be a name which has been known to the constabulary since before any of us were in the force.

"He has been referred to as the 'Fagan of the Forest', and I imagine he's a very well-known figure out there."