A PAIR of thieves have been jailed after they used a Ford master key to steal two motor homes and break into a Virgin Media van.

John Chambers was found with the special key which was capable of opening any Ford vehicle when police raided his home in Devon.

He had recruited his friend Leigh Simpkins to act as back-up driver after they took the two motor homes with a combined value of more than £50,000 from Totnes.

The two men also stole more than £5,000 worth of specialist tools from the Virgin van when it was parked overnight at an industrial estate in Newton Abbot.

Chambers, aged 35, of Falcon Park, Paignton, and Simpkins, aged 30, of St Mary’s Park, Paignton, both admitted three thefts.

Chambers also admitted two counts of handling stolen goods and harassing his wife after they split up earlier this year. He was jailed for a total of 18 months.

Simpkins was jailed for a total of 15 months by Recorder Mr Michael Parroy, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

He told them: ‘The theft of the motor homes was planned, precise, organised and relatively sophisticated offending in which you both played a significant part.

‘You were equipped with a special key which gave you access to Ford vehicles. These offences were not done on a momentary whim. It was planned criminality seeking to steal high value vehicles.’

Mr Joss Ticehurst, prosecuting, said the Virgin Media transit was raided in Newton Abbot at around the same time as the motorhomes were taken from Babbage Road in Totnes and another address in South Devon.

One of the two was fitted with false plates and both were driven to Rainham in Essex, where one was recovered later. Their total value was £51,000.

Phone and ANPR records showed the two men had travelled to Essex at the same time with Simpkins going in convoy and acting as chauffeur for the return journey.

Mr Ticehurst said the key which gave access to many Ford vehicles was found at Chamber’s home along with the tools taken in the Virgin raid and other stolen property.

Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said Chambers’ 16-year long marriage broke up because of his arrest. He said he became involved to make money to support his family.

He said Simpkins was a bus driver who had lost his job after an earlier conviction for handling and accepted an offer of £100 to take part because he needed money to look after a new-born child.