Five men jailed for vehicle theft near Harrogate in cross-county crime operation
Police dog Rhun helps capture suspects linked to vehicle theft
Five men have been sentenced at York Crown Court after attempting to steal two vehicles during a coordinated crime operation that spanned county borders near Harrogate.
The defendants—Shane Ali, James Coffey, Travis Neagle, Marcus Durant, and Lewis Jackson—were convicted of motor vehicle theft and burglary.
The court sentenced them as follows:
- Shane Ali: 31 months’ imprisonment
- James Coffey: Two years and six months, consecutive to an existing sentence
- Marcus Durant: Two years and 10 months
- Travis Neagle: 22 months
- Lewis Jackson: 20 months
The incident occurred on 4th November last year when two vehicles from a business at Fellscliffe were reported stolen. Officers quickly traced the stolen Iveco truck on the A59 near Blubberhouses, traveling in convoy with a blue VW Passat suspected of being involved in burglary activities.
The Iveco attempted to evade police by reversing into their vehicle and driving at high speeds. Ali, Coffey, and Neagle were arrested with the Passat and police dog Rhun tracked down Jackson hiding in a bush shortly after.
Residents later reported a suspicious mud-covered man in Addingham. Identified as Durant, he was arrested following coordination between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Police, illustrating effective cross-county collaboration.
Detective Constable Saiyra Khan of North Yorkshire Police praised the swift actions leading to the arrests, asserting that efforts to target cross-border criminal activities will continue.