Seven jailed after police smash gang that stole up to £10m of farm machinery in 18-month crime spree

Seven men have been jailed after a coordinated police operation ended an 18-month organised campaign that saw up to £10 million of tractors, Land Rovers, quad bikes and other agricultural equipment stolen from businesses across Shropshire and North Wales.

The group, led by 32-year-old Wayne Price, was responsible for more than 120 thefts or attempts between August 2022 and February 2024, prosecutors said. Police arrested the men during early-morning, co‑ordinated raids on March 20, 2024, with body-worn camera footage showing officers forcing entry to homes and apprehending suspects while they slept.

West Mercia Police and Dyfed‑Powys Police said investigators identified suspects through a combination of CCTV, forensic examination and mobile phone analysis. Court hearings at Shrewsbury Crown Court concluded with all seven defendants pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal; one defendant also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.

Judge Anthony Lowe imposed more than 25 years in combined prison sentences. Price, of Shrewsbury, was sentenced to nine years after the court heard he was involved in 48 offences or attempts in North Wales and 74 in the Shrewsbury area. Co‑defendants and their sentences were named by the court: Andrew Baker, 36, of Shifnal, four years and five months; Thomas Nutt, 27, of Broseley, four years and five months; Dean Rogerson, 34, of Telford, three years and one month; Ryan Taylor, 32, of Telford, two years and seven months; Neil Shevlin, 32, of Shifnal, 14 months; and Christopher Downes, 35, of Broseley, seven months.

Prosecutors said the organised group travelled to target locations days in advance to plan thefts and struck at night, using vans and trailers to remove machinery. CCTV obtained during the investigation showed suspects disabling or attempting to dismantle security cameras and using power tools to take apart equipment. Police said stolen vehicles and machinery were either stripped for parts or sold to other purchasers who did not inquire about their provenance.

Offences ranged in value, with one victim losing around £360,000 worth of property and several others suffering losses exceeding £100,000, the court heard. Overall theft estimates given by police ranged between £5 million and £10 million.

Detective Sergeant Ben Docherty of Shropshire's Serious Acquisitive Crime Team said the sentences reflected the serious impact of rural crime on local communities and thanked members of the public for reporting incidents that helped identify suspects. Chief Inspector Matthew Price of Dyfed‑Powys Police highlighted cross‑border collaboration, noting that 17 officers from his force travelled to support arrests and that crime scene investigators were instrumental in identifying the ringleader.

The prosecution relied on multi‑agency investigative work, combining digital forensics, CCTV analysis and traditional police methods to link the suspects to thefts across two police force areas. The sentences followed guilty pleas to conspiracy to steal and, in one case, handling stolen goods.

Police forces and local leaders have increasingly warned about organised rural thefts in recent years, citing the high value and mobility of agricultural machinery as factors that attract organised criminals. Authorities said the outcome of the investigation demonstrated the benefits of neighbouring forces working together to tackle cross‑border offending and protect rural businesses and farms.

All seven men remain in custody to begin their sentences, following the court's rulings.