A FUEL theft gang whose relentless campaign against a coach operator led to school buses breaking down has been jailed.

Judge Sean Morris said the repeated raids on Generation Travel, in Burden Way, Stokesley, in which 2,650 litres of diesel worth £3,000 was syphoned from a fleet of nine coaches, had devastated the business, leaving its owner unable to sleep, and embarrassed as his services appeared unreliable.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said during six thefts at the compound of the family-run business, the gang, who all lived in Moorcock Close, Middlesbrough, had also snapped off fuel taps and damaged the fence, causing £1,000 of damage.

The attacks were so sustained, the court was told, the firm was force to remove all fuel from its vehicles at night and employ staff to stay longer there to watch for thieves.

As a result of the fuel theft concerns in October and November last year, coaches the firm runs to take pupils to Stokesley School broke down en route.

The court heard the gang was arrested by police after detectives followed a car to the home of Craig Foster, and found 15 25-litre drums in his garden shed.

Kieron Foster, 20, admitted thefts on October 27 and November 3, while Liam Harper, 20, pleaded guilty to stealing fuel on October 26 and 30 and November 3.

Craig Lee Foster, 24, admitted handling stolen goods between November 11 and 26.

Kieron Foster also admitted burglary with intent at the house of someone he knew in Cranfield Avenue, Middlesbrough, a charge that Martin Moore, who the court heard had previously had 43 convictions for 97 offences but had not been in a prison for 11 years, also pleaded guilty to.

Moore, 38, also admitted punching a female police officer in the face, as he and Kieron Foster attempted to flee from the police following the break-in, before both men were arrested in gardens.

Counsel for the defendants said some were suffering from depression and were cash-strapped at the time of the offences and didn't appreciate the degree of impact their crimes would have.

Kelleigh Lodge, for Kieron Foster, said: "He was quite surprised about how easy it was to steal the diesel."

Judge Morris jailed Moore for two years, three months, Kieron Foster for 23 months and Craig Foster and Liam Harper for 14 months each.

He told them the taxpayers' money that had been used by them in their defence and would be used on keeping them in prison would have been better spent on schools and hospitals.