A CROOK who tried to raid cash machines across the country along with three other men has been jailed for his crimes.

Stewart Bentley, 36, of Ilford, was part of a gang which attempted to steal money from 25 machines by attaching chains to the devices and then trying to pull them free using stolen lorries.

Bentley admitted conspiracy to steal at a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court along with accomplices George Welford, 41, of Rochester in Kent, Paul Mockford, 36, of Southgate and Martin Godwin, 36, of Romford.

However the court heard not all of them were involved in every raid.

Bentley was sentenced to three years in prison, while Goodwin got four years and Mockford and Welford were jailed for five years.

During a 15-month period between May 2007 and July 2008 the group attempted to seize nearly £170,000 from machines in places including Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Nottingham and Surrey.

An estimated £250,000 worth of damage was caused by the men during their attempted thefts.

As well as their prison sentences, Bentley and Goodwin were also disqualified from driving for three years, with Mockford and Welford disqualified for five years each.