Travelers Linked to UK Caravan Crime Wave

Travelers Charlie Ward, age 28, Martin Ward, age 21, John McDonagh, age 31, and Martain McDonagh, age 29, have just recently been found guilty for possession of more than £700,000 in stolen caravans, cars and motor homes. They were also found with stolen cash and jewelery. These travelers were arrested in Wiltshire in England in 2007.

After this “traveling gang” was detained, the thefts of caravans fell from 848 to 454 in one year. The Winchester Crown Court went on to hear how these travelers began stealing caravans from driveways and motorway service stations back in 2004.

The men were found guilty of conspiring to steal after the three month trail. However, the men were cleared of money laundering charges. Fathers of five Martin McDonagh and Charlie Ward were sentenced to four years and five years to be served consecutively for two conspiracies. John McDonagh and Martin Ward received four years for their part in one of the conspiracies.

Only around half of the value of the goods has been recovered by police. When sentencing the men, Judge Patrick Hooton said that the crimes have caused distress and anguish to the victims.

The judge went on to say that the trial lasted for three months and during this time the court has heard evidence of repeated thefts of caravans and motor vehicles, which in total could be described as theft on a grand scale repeated time and time again. All four of these men were, in their own way, responsible for all of this.

The men, who would travel between Ireland and the UK stealing these caravans, showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down to them. All of them had previous convictions related to the theft of caravans.