FOUR burglars caught in Dorset have been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.

The quartet carried out a string of burglaries in Kent, Sussex, Dorset and Norfolk but were caught after an attempted burglary in Swanage in September.

David Marriott, Luke Abrahams, William Dunbar and Dannie Robinson were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court.

The offences took place between March and September 2008, and resulted in £125,000 of goods being stolen and in excess of £25,000 worth of damage.

The last attempted robbery was at a Co-operative store in King’s Road West, Swanage, in September, 2008.

All four of the men gained access to the store, but police were called by a member of the public just after midnight.

Following a police chase the four were arrested near the Sandford Industrial Estate where the offenders abandoned their vehicle but were found following a search by officers.

Kent Police had already begun its investigation and were able to charge the men with conspiracy to commit burglary in December last year.

During a police search of the homes of the offenders the clothing worn by some of the men during the burglaries were found in addition to photographs of the men wearing the clothing which can be seen clearly in the CCTV footage of the burglaries.

Detective Sergeant Rob Haines of Kent Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “Together with colleagues from other forces, we have carried out an extensive investigation in order to bring this gang of criminals before the courts.

“These men targeted businesses across four counties in their desire to steal thousands of pounds of cigarettes and in doing so, left behind thousands of pounds-worth of damage.

“This investigation is an example of the extent Kent Police will go to in order to ensure our communities are safe places to live, and sends out a clear message to gangs fuelled by greed that their actions will not be tolerated and will not go unpunished.”

Marriott, 23, of Wigman Road, Nottingham, was sentenced to four years for the burglaries and an additional year for other offences in Staffordshire.

Abrahams, 24, of Alwyn Road, Nottingham, was sentenced to two years.

Dunbar, 23, of Hornbeam Gardens, Nottingham, was sentenced to four years.

Robinson, 27, of Laburnum Grove, Hucknall, Nottingham, was sentenced to 12 months for the burglaries (with an additional time for previous suspended sentence – total 21 months).

All pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. Marriott, Abrahams and Dunbar pleaded guilty to the offences, which covered 21 commercial burglary offences at Co-op, Budgens and Rainbow Stores across the counties.

Robinson only pleaded guilty to his part in the burglary at Swanage, Dorset.