A TEAM of thieves who targeted farms and rural properties across Cumbria have been sentenced to a total of 15 years at Carlisle Crown Court.

The four men were found guilty of a string of thefts across the county and of conspiring to commit even more offences.

They were also granted ASBOs that will protect rural communities after they are released.

They were captured by police in February as they returned to Carlisle after stealing more than a ton of lead from Lowther Castle near Shap.

It was just one of several crimes committed between them over an eight-month period between June 2010 and February 2011.

Mark Robinson, 46, of Thompson Street, Carlisle, was found guilty of seven offences – stealing a tractor from a farm at Tebay, stealing copper cylinders from a farm at Coniston, stealing builders’ equipment and diesel from a residential home at Cotehill, stealing a generator from a garage at Armathwaite, stealing £2,000 worth of lead from the roof of Lowther Castle, and of conspiring with the others to commit such offences.

He was sentenced to five years for conspiracy to steal, and three years for the thefts, to run concurrently.

Alistair Tuddenham, 44, of Grierson Road, Upperby, was found guilty of the £2,000 theft of lead from the roof of Lowther Castle and the theft of the tractor from a farm at Tebay and of conspiring with the others to steal between June 2010 and February 2011.

He was sentenced to three years for conspiracy to steal, and two years for the thefts, to run concurrently.

Scott Rumney Mulholland, 23, of Blackwell Road, Upperby, was found guilty of the £2,000 theft of lead from the roof of Lowther Castle, the theft of the tractor from a farm at Tebay and of conspiring with the others to steal between June 2010 and February 2011.

He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for conspiracy to steal and 18 months for the thefts, to run concurrently.

Paul Gibbons, 41, of Trafalgar Street, Denton Holme, pleaded guilty to stealing the copper cylinders from a farm at Coniston and the £2,000 theft of lead from the roof of Lowther Castle and of conspiring with the others to steal between June 2010 and February 2011.

He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for conspiracy to steal and two-and-a-half years for the thefts, to run concurrently.

As well as being handed prison sentences, the men were also given ASBOs, which will restrict their movements when they leave prison.

They are the first ASBOs of this nature granted in Cumbria, and will prevent the defendants from harrassing anyone that does not live in their own household.

They will also be prohibited from entering any private land, property or outbuilding anywhere outside Carlisle.

DCI Lee Johnson, head of CID for North Cumbria, said: “These men were a pain in our side for a number of months, but we pursued them doggedly, and thanks to the vigilance of our officers and local communities, they are now behind bars”.