Members of a gang which carried out scores of "professionally planned and organised" burglaries across south west Wales have been jailed for their crimes.
The group used a series of stolen cars running on cloned number plates, used weapons to threatened and intimidated witnesses or others who crossed their path, and used bleach to destroy forensic evidence.
There target was mainly jewellery, and in one break-in alone - carried out in Skewen - they got away with gold items worth £70,000
Sending them down, a judge at Swansea Crown Court told them the seriousness of the crime was not so much in the simple monetary value of items stolen but in the "violation" of victims' homes, and the loss of articles with sentimental value.
Over a six month period Kieran Joyce, aged 28, Patrick Joyce, aged 21, Daniel Joyce, aged 36, William Joyce, 24, and a youth who cannot be named because of his age conspired together to carry out scores of burglaries across Llanelli , Swansea, the Swansea Vally, Neath , the Afan Valley, Port Talbot , Porthcawl and Maesteg between July 2018 and January 2019.
It is believed others were also involved but they have not yet been brought to justice.
The gang used stolen cars on cloned or stolen number plates to get to and from their target properties, often carrying out half-a-dozen or more in a single day.
While some of the group stayed in the car to act as lookout and getaway driver, the others would smash their way into the houses, usually via a rear door or window.
Once inside they would often ransack the property looking primarily for gold jewellery - other items such as electrical goods were rarely taken. The booty was often put into pillow cases for ease of transportation.
On a number of occasions bleach or other cleaning products were sprayed on door handles and light switches to try to frustrate any subsequent forensic investigation.
While many of the houses were empty when they raided, they did on occasions break into houses while the occupants were at home. The court heard that on one occasion terrified children had to lock themselves into the bathroom while the gang ransacked their home.
If the burglars encountered neighbours or other witnesses as they fled they would threaten them by brandishing screwdrivers, baseball bats or other weapons, or intimidate them with gestures such as making a gun with a hand.
The police investigation into the spree - codename Operation Timmia - led to officers mounting a pre-dawn raid at the travellers site on Mill Stream Way in Swansea Vale in January this year.
At the site items stolen in nine different burglaries were recovered as well as, from one caravan, a bundle of thousands of pounds in case hidden in a compartment under a false floor.
Police also found two of the caravans themselves had been stolen.
Very little of the jewellery has ever been recovered.
Kieran Joyce, of Mynells Gorse travellers site, Golf Course Lane, Leicester, Patrick Joyce, of HMP Onley, Northamptonshire, William Joyce, of HMP Swansea, Daniel Joyce, of Mill Stream Way travellers site, Swansea Vale, Swansea, and the teenager who cannot be named were all convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary following a lengthy trial at Swansea Crown Court.
Two defendants who had been accused of being part of the conspiracy - Terrence Casey, aged 20, of Mynells Gorse travellers site, Golf Course Lane, Leicester, 40-year-old James Joyce, of Llangyfelach, Road, Brynhyfryd, Swansea - were found not guilty by the jury.
Two other defendants were convicted of handling stolen goods in relation to items taken during the burglaries - Mary Connors, aged 23, of Rhossilly Avenue, Rumney, Cardiff , and Christine Joyce, aged 59, of Mill Stream Way travellers site, Swansea Vale, Swansea. Kieran Joseph Joyce, aged 59, of Mill Stream Way travellers site, Swansea Vale, Swansea, was acquitted of the same charge.
Prosecution barrister Ian Wright read out a series of victim impact statements from some of those the gang burgled - all referred to the feelings of insecurity and fear caused by having strangers breaking into their homes, and of the pain of losing items of great sentimental or family value to the thieves. Many of the victims said they have now installed CCTV systems, alarms, and new locks, and one has ever surrounded his garden with barbed wire. Some of the victims reported being too scared to leave their homes unoccupied, while one or two have actually moved house such is their distress at what happened.
Many of the victims were in their 80s, and the court heard the raids has had a profound impact on their lives.
Barristers for the five conspirators all said their clients were sorry for what they had done, and wanted to turn their lives around.
Lawrence Henderson, for Kieran Joyce, said there was little evidence his client had entered properties and "it is more likely he was acting as driver".
In a letter to the court the dad-of-four said he was "completely ashamed of himself" and after taking courses in prison which serving the inevitable sentence he faced intends to "return to my family and community as a better man".
Andrew Evans for Daniel Joyce said an outreach worker for Swansea Council had described his client as a "responsible, caring family man".
The advocate said Joyce wanted to "ensure his children take a different path in life than he did".
Ashanti-Jade Walton, for William Joyce, said her client had been taken out of school at the age of 11 and "thrown into helping the family business".
The court heard the defendant is currently serving a three sentence for other burgalries.
Hywel Davies, for the youth, said his client had been taking courses while in custody awaiting sentencing, and wanted to take more in the future, adding he had the "intelligence and drive" to change his life.
David Leithley, for Christine Joyce, said his client fell to be sentenced for handling one stolen earring - a Pandora earring stolen from a burglary in Llanelli which she was wearing when police interviewed her - while Kate Williams for Mary Kate Connors said he client was a mother of three young children.
Judge Keith Thomas said burglaries were always treated serious not just because of any monetary value of goods stolen but because of the "sense of violation and insecurity" break-ins cause, and because often items of great sentimental value were taken.
The judge described the spree of burglaries committed by the five males as "professionally planned and organised.
He said he was satisfied that between them, the five defendants were responsible for the "vast majority" of the burglaries included in the conspiracy, though he said he accepted the evidence that others were also involved.
Judge Thomas said there was evidence Kieran Joyce was connected to burglaries carried out throughout the six month conspiracy, and he sentenced him to 10 years.
Patrick and William Joyce were both sentenced to eight years, while Daniel Joyce was sentenced to six years.
The youth - who the judge described as a an "enthusiastic burglar" was sentenced to four years detention.
The adult defendants will serve half their sentences in prison before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Christine Joyce and Connors were each made the subject of 12 month community order with a 200 hours of unpaid work.
Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police superintendent Cath Larkman said: "These burglaries had a significant impact on their victims many of whom were vulnerable. These burglars smashed their way into people’s homes not caring if the occupants were home or not.
"No stone would be left unturned in investigating these offences and bringing the offenders to justice.
"We set up a dedicated operation team called Operation Timmia who relentlessly investigated these offences.
"While we recognise nothing can undo that these burglaries have taken place and the significant impact on these victims, we do hope the actions we took and today’s sentences do provide some comfort to them that justice has been done."
