THREE members of the so-called Million Pound Gang have been jailed after admitting a string of burglaries and car thefts.

The prolific thieves burgled at least 26 homes and stole more than 30 cars between September last year and February this year.

The gang carried out what became known as “two-in one” burglaries, where thieves steal valuables before taking the householder’s keys and driving away in their car.

The Middlesbrough-based gang targeted homes across Teesside, North Yorkshire and County Durham.

Properties in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Eaglescliffe, Pickering, Helmsley, Malton, Thirsk, Whitby and Barnard Castle were hit.

The gang stole executive cars, as well as laptops, money, bank cards and mobile phones.

Police valued the stolen goods at more than £250,000.

Several burglaries took place over the Christmas period, including on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

Trevor James Lawrence, 28, of St Cuthbert’s Walk, Liverton Mines, near Loftus, east Cleveland, his brother, Daniel James Lawrence, 22, of Wellesby Road, Middlesbrough, and Paul Thomas, 33, of Stamford Street, Middlesbrough, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary at an earlier hearing.

In mitigation, Dan Cordey, for Thomas, said the gang was not a sophisticated outfit.

The judge was also asked to give credit for the defendants’ early guilty pleas. Passing sentence, Judge John Walford said: “Whether the way you conducted these offences can be described as sophisticated is neither here nor there.”

Thomas was sentenced to seven years in prison, Trevor Lawrence to six years and Daniel Lawrence to four years in jail. Appearing alongside the three was Thomas’ mother, Carol Thomas, 57, and her partner, John Edward Calpin, 34, both of Stamford Street, Middlesbrough.

The pair pleaded guilty to handling stolen property at an earlier hearing. Miss Thomas was given a fourmonth prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Calpin was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

A sixth defendant, Sarah Louise Lawton, 34, of Aubrey Street, Middlesbrough, who is the Lawrence brothers’ sister, was released on conditional bail and will be sentenced at a later date. She admitted handling stolen property.

Judge Walford praised the police inquiry as “diligent and thorough”. He gave commendations to Detective Sergeant Mick Todd and Detective Constable Colin Johnson, from Cleveland Police, and Det Sgt Brian Simpson and Det Con Eileen Huscroft, from Northallerton CID.