Fourth man sentenced for motorhome theft spree

A fourth man has been sentenced for a string of motorhome thefts across the South East last year.

Appearing at Reading Crown Court, John Lehane, 51, from West Byfleet in Surrey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicle and was given 40 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £187 fine.

Lehane, who had failed to turn up for a previous court appearance earlier this year, was located by Surrey Police on 11 June.

Three others - John Doe, 46, and Cornelius Buckley, 35, who are both from Woking, and Joseph Wickens, 42, from Hailsham, East Sussex, were given their sentences in March.

The investigation into the ring of thieves first began in May 2024, after a motorhome was stolen from Chobham and taken into Sussex.

A second motorhome was stolen from Hook a few days later and tracked to Woking, where it was recovered and returned to its owner.

Shortly afterwards, a grey Volkswagen Tiguan being used as the lead vehicle for the thefts was spotted by officers in convoy with a fourth stolen motorhome.

The vehicles were successfully stopped in Farnborough in Hampshire, and Doe, Wickens and Buckley were all arrested.

Doe was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months and 30 rehabilitation days, while Wickens got 16-months inside suspended for 18 months and 20 rehabilitation days.

Buckley was given a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

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