Midland car gang's chauffeur jailed for 30 months

A chauffeur for a gang of car thieves that targeted top-of-the-range vehicles across the Midlands has been jailed for 30 months.

James Watters, aged 26, was part of a group that went on a £300,000 crime spree, stealing BMW cars from across the region. But he was found hiding under a car by police following an attempted theft of a £35,000 BMW M5 along with two of his fellow crooks.

The father of two acted as a driver for the gang, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Cars in Willenhall, Streetly, Kidderminster, Halesowen, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire were among those targeted.

An earlier hearing heard an eagle-eyed passer-by brought an end to the crime spree when he spotted men breaking the window of a £35,000 BMW M5 parked in Lymington Road, Willenhall.

He gave police the vital tip that helped catch the gang. Officers arrested three suspects, including Watters, at the scene.

Yesterday's hearing heard that Watters, of Gosey Lane in Birmingham, acted as a driver for the men who were stealing the cars.

The gang stole or tried to steal six BMWs and a VW Scirocco in five months. It started in May 2010 when a £55,000 BMW M3 was taken in Streetly after its electronic "brain" was replaced.

A VW Scirocco was taken from Bewdley Drive, Kidderminster, on July 17 2010 and parts of it later discovered at the Digbeth industrial unit.

Cars, including two BMW M3s, were also taken from addresses in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

On October 21 2010 a £40,000 BMW M3 was taken in Whitley Avenue, Halesowen, and found dismantled at an industrial unit in Hockley. Five days later police made the three arrests in Willenhall.

Three other men have been jailed for their part in the gang. Two others received suspended jail terms.

By Crime Correspondent Shaun Jepson