Three prolific Forest of Dean burglars have been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Connor Smith, 54, of Oakle Street, Minsterworth pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to handling stolen goods and money laundering. Liam Annetts, 20, of Stantway Lane, Westbury-on-Severn, Craig Jenkins, 25, of Gloucester, and Miguel Pacheco, 24, of Villa Close, Ruspidge, Cinderford, all pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to burgle.

They were sentenced today at Gloucester Crown Court. A fourth man was sentenced to a community order

The Forest and Gloucester Priority Policing Team (PPT) began their investigations into this prolific group in April 2008.

During the police investigation, warrants were executed at a number of addresses leading to the recovery of property stolen from burglaries and thefts in the Forest of Dean. Items recovered included expensive quad bikes, a ride on lawnmower, power tools and garden machinery.

PC Emma Woodward, who was the 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.

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

"Their crimes varied from attempted shed breaks to high value burglaries and in one case they assaulted the occupant who tried to stop them.

"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, who was 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."

The offenders received the following sentences; Connor Smith - three years imprisonment, Liam Annetts - four and a half years imprisonment, Miguel Pacheco - four and a half years imprisonment and Craig Jenkins - community Order, which includes an 18 month supervision order with the probation service.