THREE men given jail terms for handling stolen tractors and trailers have had their sentences cut.

Edward Harrison, Stuart Cartmell and Andrew Kirk had been sentenced after admitting handling charges at Preston Crown Court.

Farm equipment dealer Harrison, 26, of High Street, Burton-in-Lonsdale, had his sentence reduced by 11 months to two years; salesman Cartmell, 47, of Capernwray, had his term cut from 19 months to 15 months; and Kirk, 37, of Halton Park, Halton, saw his eight-month suspended sentence reduced to six months.

Harrison had been described by a judge as the ringleader of a sophisticated handling operation based at Arkholme, near Kirkby Lonsdale.

Harrison and Cartmell had admitted two charges of handling stolen goods and one of making a false statement.

Harrison also admitted two charges of fraud. Kirk admitted one offence of handling.

The men were caught after police investigated thefts of tractors from around the country.

Officers discovered stolen items after searching Acorn Trading premises, owned by Harrison, at Arkholme.