A gang of burglars will be forced to sell the Mercedes used in five raids in Essex, Kent and London in order to compensate the victims, a judge has ruled.

Gheorghe Ciobotaru, 42, along with two accomplices Gabriel Zaharia, 30, and Valentin Ciobotaru, 34, used a silver Mercedes as a getaway vehicle after breaking into three different homes.

The gang raided one house in Sevenoaks, Kent, where they forced a window open and ransacked the building but made off with nothing, leaving empty-handed.

Later that day on February 5, the trio then broke into another home around 15 miles away in Dartford, Kent, then a third around four miles away in Bexley, south east London.

They again trashed the property and made off with jewellery of huge sentimental value.

Echo: The getaway vehicle. Photo: Kent Police / SWNSThe getaway vehicle. Photo: Kent Police / SWNS (Image: Kent Police / SWNS)

After being caught on CCTV, the gang were arrested four days later in Ilford, east London.

A police probe found the suspects were also behind two other burglaries in Loughton, Essex, the day before the Kent raids.

At Maidstone Crown Court in March the three defendants, all of no fixed address, pleaded guilty after being charged with five burglaries.

Gheorghe Ciobotaru was sentenced to five years and three months in prison at the same court.

Echo: Gheorghe Ciobotaru. Photo: Kent PoliceGheorghe Ciobotaru. Photo: Kent Police (Image: Kent Police)

The judge also ordered the car used by the criminals should be sold to compensate their victims.

Mercedes C-Class saloons registered between 2000 and 2007 are currently worth around £3,000 and £9,000, depending on its condition.

Zaharia and Valentin Ciobotaru were both jailed for five years and three months in July.

Echo: Gabriel Zaharia and Valentin Ciobotaru. Photo: Kent Police / SWNSGabriel Zaharia and Valentin Ciobotaru. Photo: Kent Police / SWNS (Image: Kent Police / SWNS)

Detective Constable Dan Bister of Kent Police after the sentencing slammed the gang as having "no thought for the impact their heartless actions had on their victims".

He said yesterday (Mon): "This criminal gang travelled between Kent and Essex leaving a trail of destruction as they forced their way into houses and searched for jewellery.

"They gave no thought for the impact their heartless actions would have on the victims, some of whom lost jewellery of significant sentimental value.

"This latest sentence ensures Kent and Essex remains a much safer place while these criminals are behind bars."