FOUR men who were caught stealing metal from a Snailwell scrapyard have been jailed.

Peter Davis, 29, John Massen, 26, Aaron Fagg, 22, Alfred Rye Snr, 50, and Alfred Rye Jnr, 21,were spotted on CCTV dragging bins filled with scrap metal out of the site in Fordham Road shortly before midnight on March 19.

Security staff alerted police and the force helicopter was put up to catch those responsible. The five, along with a further four, split up into small groups and tried to make off, some even climbed trees in a bid to escape, but officers were directed in by the helicopter crew and the nine were arrested nearby.

Officers also recovered the metal-filled bins. All nine pleaded guilty to theft.

Davis, of Old Church Street, Kent, was jailed for nine months while Rye Snr and Jnr all of Hill Rise, Dartford, and Fagg, of Old Church Court, Kent, were each given six months at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (Aug 3).

The other five were given a mixture of suspended sentences and community orders, full details below.

Detective Sergeant Emma Compson, who investigated, said: “These men headed up from Kent with the aim of stealing metal from what they thought would be an easy target.

“But thanks to the security staff’s vigilance and speed with which we were able to get the helicopter to the scene meant they were caught red-handed.

“This type of theft will not be tolerated and we will continue to catch anyone involved in such criminality and put them before the courts.”

Christopher Rye, 47, of Hill Rise, Dartford, was given six months, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work,

Mark Cobb, 19, of Upper Abbey Road, Kent, was given a four month sentence, suspended for one year, ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work, given a three-month curfew and pay �150 costs.

Mark Smith, 20, of Hill Rise, Dartford, was given six months in a young offenders’ institute, suspended for one year, ordered to carry out a Thinking Skills programme and 100 hours unpaid work.

David Smith, 25, of Hill Rise, Dartford, was given six months, suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work and attend a Thinking Skills programme.

John Massen, 26, of Hill Rise, Dartford, was given a six month sentence, suspended for two years, 120 hours’ unpaid work and a curfew from 10pm to 5am daily.