A GANG which targeted more than 30 schools and clubs throughout the North West has been jailed for a total of 19 and a half years.

A Crown Court heard how the four-man gang visited the schools posing as parents who were considering sending their children there.

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But, in reality, they were planning burglaries and used the visits as opportunities to disable alarm sensors.

The court was told how staff would lock up the premises for the night and the gang would return later to break in. As the sensors did not activate, the thefts were not discovered until the next day.

High value computers, iPads and cash were taken in the burglaries. The gang travelled to Accrington, Great Harwood, Rossendale, Bolton, Southport and Wakefield and committed crimes at a total of 35 locations.

The value of the property stolen is estimated at more than £73,000.

Sentencing Benjamin Grimes, his cousin Samuel Grimes, Christopher Moore and Mark Rhodes, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, told them: “Your actions will, in some cases, have had a detrimental effect, at least in the short term, on schools’ ability to provide for their pupils as they would wish.”

The court heard that considerable planning had gone into the crimes, but the men were eventually caught on May 18 after members of the public reported suspicious activity around Hollymount Primary School, Greenmount and Tottington South Primary School.

Benjamin Grimes, aged 26, of Pear Tree Drive, Farnworth, Samuel Grimes, aged 24, of Georgina Court, Bolton, Mark Rhodes, aged 30, of Adrian Street, Moston, and Christopher Moore, aged 29, of Wolsey Street, Heywood, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

In addition Benjamin Grimes and Rhodes admitted robbing The Three Pigeons pub, Wigan Road, Bolton, on September 6 last year when they burst into the pub as part of a four man gang armed with baseball bats and forced the terrified landlady to hand over £730 from the office safe.

Benjamin Grimes also pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Clarke Street, Halliwell on November 3.

Benjamin Grimes, who was described as “the most prolific and active participant in the conspiracy” was jailed for seven years.

His cousin, Samuel Grimes, was sentenced to two years and eight months, Rhodes was imprisoned for six and a half years and Moore received three years and four months.

Detective Inspector Charlotte Cadden said: “This is a superb result for our officers, who have worked incredibly hard to bring this gang to justice.

“The impact their crime spree has had on these schools has been massive, and cannot only be measured in financial terms."