A WALTHAMSTOW gang who stole more than £500,000 from cash machines across England have been jailed for a total of 30 years.

The 10 men, eight of whom are from Waltham Forest, took money from 24 ATMs in the space of seven months between May 2007 and January 2008.

The thefts happened across the country, from Manchester to Devon.

Det Insp Paddy Kerr, who led the investigation, said: “The group often operated in teams of between two and four and would sometimes strike several locations in an evening.

“They predominantly targeted railway stations, drive-through restaurants and service stations under the cover of darkness and used angle grinders and crow bars to access the free-standing ATMs, on occasion simply carrying away the entire machine.”

Seven of the gang members were from Walthamstow. Ricky Mayo, 26, of Prospect Hill, was at Southwark Crown Court today sentenced to four years for conspiracy to steal, along with Christoper Skuce, 29, of Bosworth Close, (five years) Danny Dempsey, 41, of Leucha Road (five years), Jason Worsley, 38, of Arkley Road, (three years), and Craig Robinson, 25, of Albion Road (four years).

Richard Billington, 28, of London Road, Purfleet, Essex, was also jailed today for three years for conspiracy to steal.

Four others had previously been sentenced for their part in the operation.

Kenny Crossley, 34, of Waterhall Close, Walthamstow, was jailed for two years and Ricky Cornwell, of Wigram Square, Walthamstow, was handed a a suspended 12 month sentence and 100 hours of community service.

Wesley Nelson, 28, of Langthorne Road, Leyton, was jailed for two years while Darren Bryant , 25, of Skippers Gardens, Basingstoke, was also jailed for two years.

The gang have cost the ATM industry an estimated £2m.

Det Insp Kerr said: “This investigation has also enabled us to assist the ATM companies in upgrading the security of their cash machines as a result.”