TWO men and a 17-year-old boy accused of a string of house burglaries and attempts in which Asian gold and the elderly were targeted have been locked up.

Addie Piggott, 24, of the Ruthin Road caravan site at Wrexham, accused of a dozen allegations, and dangerous driving on December 11 on roads in the vicinity of Oswestry and Wrexham, was jailed for six years and a month.

Judge Huw Rees imposed a ten-year criminal behaviour order at Caernarfon crown court.

Piggott admitted conspiring to commit house burglaries in the region with Michael Anthony Berry, 20, of Berrylands, Wrexham, and the teen who had been of Ellesmere Port.

Berry was jailed for four years and ten months and a seven-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) made.

The teenager was sentenced to 18 months detention with a three-year CBO.

It was alleged originally that the conspiracy involved 35 dwellings but each defendant claimed their involvement was much less.

Judge Rees said in some cases CCTV cameras had been disturbed to avoid detection and items, some of sentimental value, stolen. A number of properties were chosen carefully.

“The effect on these victims has been marked and real,” the judge remarked.

After the sentencing detective inspector Mark Hughes of North Wales police said : “Between August and December last year these three criminals targeted vulnerable elderly people and Asian households across several counties, causing great distress to many. Following a determined effort from officers under Operation Careen we were able to bring these individuals to court. They are now behind bars where they belong.”