Seven men jailed over £10 Million rural crime spree in Shropshire
Detectives launched an investigation in 2023 after a sharp rise in rural burglaries
Seven men have been jailed for a combined total of more than 25 years after stealing millions of pounds worth of farm machinery across Shropshire and North Wales.
Detectives launched an investigation in 2023 after a sharp rise in rural burglaries, uncovering that farms in south Shropshire were being repeatedly targeted.
Tractors, quad bikes, gators and 4x4s were among the equipment stolen, much of it taken in the middle of the night from isolated sites.
Officers from West Mercia Police and Dyfed-Powys Police linked the gang to more than 150 offences between August 2022 and February 2024, with losses valued at between five and ten million pounds.
The men were arrested during coordinated raids in March this year and admitted conspiracy to steal.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Monday (15 September), they were sentenced as follows:
- Andrew Baker, aged 36, of Lovell Close in Shifnal, Shropshire – four years and five months
- Christopher Downes, aged 35, of Park View in Broseley, Shropshire – seven months
- Thomas Nutt, aged 27, of Bridgnorth Road in Broseley, Shropshire – four years and five months
- Wayne Price, aged 32, of Cross Houses in Shrewsbury, Shropshire – nine years
- Dean Rogerson, aged 34, of Homelands Park in Ketley Bank, Telford – three years and one-month
- Neil Shevlin, aged 32, of Four Winds in Norton, Shifnal, Shropshire – one-year and two months
- Ryan Taylor, aged 32, of Hayward Parade in Telford – two years and six months
Detective Sergeant Ben Docherty said the sentencing sends a strong message that rural crime will not be tolerated:
“This type of crime has a huge impact on our rural communities.
"We will do everything to ensure offenders are put before the courts.”
Chief Inspector Matthew Price of Dyfed-Powys Police praised the cross-border investigation:
“This was a great piece of joint work into an organised crime group who thought they could target rural areas. It shows how important collaboration is in tackling cross-border crime.”