A GANG of five people has been jailed for almost 20 years between them for a complex fraud case against British Telecom.

The case centred around the theft of expensive equipment from BT, which was then cleared of markings and then sold on.

Stephen Smith, 61, from Hook, Swindon, guilty of one count of conspiracy to steal and three counts of conspiracy to money launder was jailed for 8.5 years.

Ronald Porter, 53, of Siward Road, Witham, Essex, guilty of one count of conspiracy to steal and jailed for four years.

Philip Woodcraft, 57, of Gorsley, Ross-On-Wye, guilty of one count of conspiracy to money launder and imprisoned for three and a half years.

Martin Kilford, 52, from Dydale Road, Swindon, pleaded guilty to all four counts at an earlier date and was sent to jail for two years and four months.

Karen Allan, 59, of Rudgard Road, Coventry, guilty of conspiracy to money launder and was given a two year suspended jail sentence.

The crimes took place between 2009 and 2011 and involved of long-running police investigation.

A five month trial at Bristol Crown Court heard how BT thought it had £2 million worth of equipment stolen from Carillion Telent PLC at Chelmsford between 2009 and 2011.

Porter, a foreman at the site, would order items which were not needed. This were then transported to Smith, who ran a company called Telkom International based at Wootton Bassett.

Once here the equipment was cleared of any markings and then sold on.

Following a tip-off, police raided Telkom after seeing workers taking the markings off during an undercover visit.

Seen as the ring-leader of the operation, Smith received the longest sentence and was accused of coercing all the others into committing the crime.

Sentencing Smith, Judge Longford said: “It is clear that you are a man who is in many respects very talented. In your early career you were very successful through hard work and a good understanding of your industry.

“I have no doubt you were the prime mover. I have no idea why you felt the need to increase your profit by resorting to deception and theft for nothing more than simple greed.”

Following the case, Detective Constable Mac Mclellan said: “The sentences given out today reflect the enormity of the crimes committed, and the hard work and dedication which has gone into this lengthy and complex investigation.

“Although convictions have been secured, Wiltshire Police will ensure that nobody will profit from criminality, and under the Proceeds of Crime Act, any assets made during the course of crime will be recovered by Wiltshire Police. The full assets are still being assessed, but we are looking at seven figure sums and numerous assets have been restrained by the court already.

“This investigation serves to prove that Wiltshire Police will leave no stone unturned in investigating reports of this nature, no matter how complex and lengthy they are.”