A GANG of burglars responsible for more than 100 break-ins and thefts across Basildon has been smashed by police.

The hardened crooks brought misery to hundreds of residents until an undercover police operation stopped them in their tracks.

The worst offender of the nine-strong gang, 20-year-old Michael Howe, admitted carrying out five burglaries but he asked for another 72 offences – including other break-ins and counts of handling stolen goods, which he also admitted – to be taken into consideration by the judge.

Southend Crown Court heard detectives and undercover officers had members of the gang under surveillance.

All of the crooks carried out multiple break-ins across Pitsea, Laindon and Basildon, but then played right into the hands of police by selling stolen goods from the burglaries to officers posing as fellow crooks.

The undercover sting, codenamed Operation Lentil, came to its conclusion in April this year when around 100 officers took part in early morning raids, arresting 13 people.

Nine were charged and brought before the courts.

The burglars were sentenced at Southend Crown Court after admitting their crimes.

Michael Howe, who was already on remand at Chelmsford Prison, was jailed for four years. He admitted five counts of burglary, one of actual bodily harm and asked for a further 72 offences of burglary and handling stolen goods to be taken into consideration.

Billy Neighbour, 18, of Cray-lands, Basildon, was jailed for three years. He admitted three counts of burglary and two of theft and asked for 12 other crimes to be taken into consideration.

Jason Woods, 20, of South-wark Path, Craylands, pleaded guilty to four counts of handling stolen goods. He was jailed for two years.

Mark Higgins, 18, of Napier Close, Basildon admitted handling stolen goods and asked for one other offence to be taken into consideration. He was sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders’ institution.

Daryl Munro, 18, of Eastbrooks Place, Pitsea, was given an 18-month community order, 120-hours of unpaid work and is subject to an eight-week curfew, after pleading guilty to three counts of burglary.

Harry Pavitt, 19, of South Crockerford, Vange, was given an 18-month community order, 120 hours of unpaid work and given an eight-week curfew after he admitted stealing a motorbike.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen motorbike. He was given a 12-month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work and was made the subject of an eight-week curfew.

Two other men are yet to be sentenced.

Robert Balloch, 20, of Southwark Path, Craylands, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and asked for 12 other crimes to be considered while Thomas Harbour, 19, of Rochester Way, Craylands, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and burglary. The pair will be sentenced later this week.