A MAN has been jailed for his part in a nationwide conspiracy to steal cars.
West Midlands Police said Hughie Bradley, also known as Hughie Das, helped steal more than £600,000 worth of luxury cars from across the country.
Bradley was identified during an investigation by the Solihull Neighbourhood Crime team (NCT), who linked the 31-year-old to a number of relay thefts in the West Midlands.
Bradley would steal the cars using relay kits he ordered from contacts in Poland, which allowed him to start the cars without having access to the keys.
From there, the cars would be taken to different sites in Essex with the intention of sending them on to countries in Africa.
The force said Bradley was spotted on CCTV at a location in Essex and was caught when he used his own car, a VW Golf, to drive in convoy with some of the stolen cars.
Following an investigation which was assisted by Essex Police and Hertfordshire Police, the total value of cars stolen was totalled at £654,664.
Bradley was arrested and charged in November last year as messages showed he had paid £25,000 for one of the devices he bought from Poland.
There was also video footage filmed by Bradley showing him carrying out reconnaissance of houses where luxury SUVs were parked up.
He is then said to have used Snapchat to contact criminal associates and arrange onward sales.
Bradley, from Sutton Coldfield, was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
Detective Sergeant Daniel Wilson from the Solihull NCT said: “This is an excellent result made possible by working together with colleagues from other police forces.
“We know how distressing it can be to have your car stolen, which is why we investigate all reports we receive and use every method at our disposal to catch and prosecute those responsible.”
