The two leaders of a farm theft gang which preyed on isolated properties have been ordered to repay almost £120,000 or face longer jail sentences.

The Kingsbridge and Salcombe Gazette reported that Daniel Small sent his two sons out to raid farms all over South and West Devon to steal farm machinery or Land Rovers, many of which were ’ringed’ at a yard in North Somerset.

The Small gang carried out the 31 raids which included thefts from farms, riding schools and even a cattery. They stole £281,470 worth of vehicles and tools in a seven month spree.

The thefts were carried out over the South Hams, Plymouth, West Devon, South Dartmoor and extended into East Cornwall and North Devon.

Daniel Small Senior ran a scrap yard at Linketty Lane on the outskirts of Plymouth and some of the stolen farm machinery was hidden at neighbour Barry Stephens farm at Wembury.

Small, aged 61, was jailed for four years and Isaacs, aged 45, of The Paddock, Puriton, for three years after they were found guilty of conspiracy to steal at a trial at Exeter Crown Court in March 2017.

Stephens, aged 59, of South Barton Farm, Wembury, was jailed for ten months, suspended for a year, after he admitted handling.

All three returned to Exeter Crown Court where Judge Erik Salomonsen approved an agreed order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The Judge said Small and Isaacs had jointly benefited by £119,800 and ordered Small to pay £100,000 and Isaacs to pay £19,800.Stephens had benefited by £27,000 and ordered him to repay this amount.

He ordered all the money to be repaid within three months or face periods of imprisonment in default of two years for Small and one year for Isaacs and Stephens.

Lawyers representing all the men said they would have to sell assets or remortgage to find the money. Small has already put property on the market and Stephens plans to remortgage his land.

Isaacs is to sell a valuable watch which he bought through the illegal sales of the Land Rovers and hand over some cash which was seized on his arrest.

James Small, aged 36, of Berkshire Drive, Plymouth, and Daniel Small, aged 25, of Ward Place, Plymouth, who were both jailed, were found to have no assets and so no orders were made against them.

The trial last year heard how the thefts targeted farmers and a rural economy in which many businesses are struggling to survive.

They normally struck overnight and the thefts carried on until a tracking device on a stolen quad bike led police to Isaacs’ yard at a traveller’s site at Puriton, near Bridgwater in January 2016.

The thefts included horse boxes, trailers, quad bikes, Land Rovers, and a rigid inflatable boat from Queen Anne’s Marina. The two sons even stole a pair of jet skis which they were seen trying to ride unsuccessfully at Wembury beach, near Plymouth.

Many farms have experienced thefts for generations, but NFU members are reporting a significant increase and are feeling more vulnerable. Figures from NFU Mutual showed a significant increase in crime during the first half of 2017
after a drop in 2016.