TREGARON was one of a number of rural west Wales communities targeted by a trio of London thieves in a night-long series of raids, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Brothers Michael, Patrick, and Shamus McDonagh broke into tradesmen's vans and stole thousands of pounds worth of tools from isolated addresses.

As the gang fled from police they threw objects from their van at the pursuing officers – one of which became embedded in the bonnet of the chasing police car.

The court heard the spree took place in the early hours of June 12, 2018, after the McDonaghs drove to Wales.

Prosecutor Hannah George, said the trio – all teenagers at the time – equipped themselves with gloves and hats and taking a series of false number plates to fix to their vehicle.

Over the following hours the gang targeted vans in rural or isolated locations including Tregaron and Llanrhystud breaking into the vehicles and stealing thousands of pounds' worth of tools and equipment.

After their Peugeot van was subsequently located near Aberystwyth.a high-speed chase along the A44 and the A470 through mid-Wales saw the fleeing vehicle touching speeds of 100mph as the McDonaghs tried to escape.

On a number of occasions the Peugeot drove on the wrong side of the road and went the wrong way around roundabouts.

Miss George said during the pursuit tools and batteries were thrown from the fleeing van towards the pursuing police car forcing it to take evasive action. However, one of batteries hit the car and became lodged in its bonnet.

The defendants were arrested when the van eventually crashed near Newtown in Powys; two of them having to be hospitalised due to their injuries.

Shamus McDonagh, now aged 20, of Lily Way, Enfield, London, had previously pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and to going equipped for theft and to intentionally causing a danger on a road when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

He has 11 previous convictions for 37 offences including dangerous driving, going equipped to commit theft, handling stolen goods, fraud, and 11 for theft and kindred matters.

Patrick Joseph McDonagh, now aged 22, of Palmerston Road, Palmers Green, London, and 21-year-old Michael Joseph McDonagh, whose address was given as Brinsford Prison, Wolverhampton, had both previously pleaded guilty to six counts of theft.

Patrick McDonagh has six previous convictions for 13 offences including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and theft while Michael McDonagh has eight previous conviction for 15 offences including burglary, battery, and eight thefts.

Judge Paul Thomas QC told the defendants that in the summer of 2018 they had come to Wales on what could only be described as a ‘thieving expedition’ and had stolen items which decent people needed in order to pursue a lawful living.

With discounts for their guilty pleas Shamus McDonagh was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison and Michael and Patrick McDonagh to 18 weeks in prison.

Speaking outside court, DI Adam Cann, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “This was a protracted and difficult investigation to deal with.

“The OIC, DC Caroline Hughes, was tenacious in her pursuit of all lines of enquiry which spanned multiple counties, police force areas and included intricate digital and forensic submissions.

“The ultimate convictions handed out to the suspects served to bring justice to the multiple victims of crime and sent a clear message that this type of criminality will not be tolerated by Dyfed-Powys Police.”