Six men have been jailed for stealing 26 caravans across Essex, including some from Wickford and East Hanningfield.

Police launched Operation Winnebago after a significant spike in caravan thefts was recorded during 2013 and 2014.

Officers discovered that many of the thefts were carried out by members of the same family.

Six men admitted a total of 38 offences of handling stolen goods, theft or attempted theft at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, November 6.

On Friday, they appeared at the same court and were sentenced to more than ten years in total.

Bernard McDonagh, 31, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years and Thomas McDonagh, 32, of Middle Ground, Wheatley, was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Christopher McDonagh, 21, of Middle Ground, Wheatley, was handed a two-year prison sentence which included nine months for dangerous driving and one month for an unrelated theft and Martin McDonagh, 24, also of Middle Ground, Wheatley, was jailed for 12 months.

Paul Abbasi, 40, from West Hampstead, who was one of the McDonaghs drivers, was jailed for 14 months and Bernie McDonagh, 28, of Horseman Side, Brentwood, was jailed for two years and five months.

While all the McDonagh’s are believed to be related, police have only been able to establish that Bernard, Thomas and Martin are brothers, Christopher is their nephew and Bernie is Christopher’s cousin.

The court heard that the gang organised the theft of 4x4 vehicles, which were then used to steal caravans from driveways and garages.

The stolen vehicles, which included 26 caravans and 12 4x4 vehicles, were worth a combined £283,200.

The court heard Bernard McDonagh stole a Swift Fairway caravan from Runwell Road, Wickford on August 21, 2013.

On August 16, 2013, Bernard McDonagh, Thomas McDonagh and Paul Abassi stole a caravan from Old Church Road, East Hanningfield.