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WATCH: Police dog takes down thieves after 40-minute chase through Stafford

Three 'career criminals' who organised a spate of van thefts have been jailed after leading police on a 40-minute chase through Stafford.

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Craig Mason, aged 43, currently serving a sentence following a recall to prison for an unrelated offence, Scott Parker, aged 36, of Emerson Road, Wolverhampton and Gregory Simpson, aged 30, of Hatherton Gardens, Wolverhampton, stole vans in Milford, Codsall and Brocton over a two day period in January.

After stealing a white Ford Transit van from the Milford area on January 8, the group took over £6,000 worth of tools from inside before abandoning it.

Three hours later, they stole another Ford Transit from Upper Green in Wolverhampton, taking parcels before abandoning it in Codsall.

Just a few hours later the group were back at it and took a red Citroen Relay from outside the Pool Lane Post Office in Brocton, however this van was fitted with a tracking device, leading police to the village of Tixall.

When they arrived at the tracker site, they saw a white Vauxhall Vivaro, displaying false registration plates, leaving the area at a high speed.

All three crooks have been jailed

This led to a 40-minute pursuit through Stafford, including Great Haywood, Grindley and Ingestre, before finally stopping at Hixon airfield.

One offender, Scott Parker, was detained at the location by police dog Jax.

Officers on the ground were supported by the force helicopter.

A detailed police investigation linked all the offences to Mason, Parker and Simpson, and showed their involvement with cross-broader operation.

PC Craig Beardsley, from Staffordshire Police's Road Crime Team, was one of the officers involved in the pursuit.

He said: "These three men are career criminals, who travel across the county to commit crime.

"They have no regard for the victims and as seen in the footage, they are prepared to damage police vehicles to aid their escape.

"Cross border criminality will not be tolerated and Staffordshire Police takes this type of offending very seriously.

"I would like to reassure the public that all police officers who were involved in this pursuit are highly trained and experienced.

"The risk to the public is constantly assessed and evaluated and we endeavour to bring any pursuit to a safe conclusion at the earliest opportunity.?

"I welcome the sentencing from Stafford Crown Court and hope the custodial sentences brings satisfaction to our victims of crime."

Mason was convicted of driving whilst disqualified; using a motor vehicle on a road or public place without third party insurance; aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and theft from motor vehicle.

He has been jailed for 15 months and was disqualified from driving for three years.

Parker was convicted of aggravated vehicle taking and sentenced to six months imprisonment, as well as two counts of theft from a motor vehicle, carrying six months for each offence.

The sentences will run concurrently and he was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Simpson, was convicted of aggravated vehicle taking and sentenced to six months imprisonment, as well as 2 counts of theft from motor vehicle, carrying six months for each offence.

The sentences will run concurrently and he was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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