MOST of a crime gang who broke into residents’ homes to steal keys before driving off in luxury cars from their drives will have to pay back just £1 each after a Proceeds of Crime Act application.

Of the crew of five, who were jailed for a total of 26 years last year, only one of them, Robert Coulson, of Graig Park Road, in Newport, must hand over more.

At Cardiff Crown Court, the 43-year-old was ordered by Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke to return £2,250 after prosecutor Jonathan Elystan Rees said he had benefitted to the tune of nearly £10,000.

The other members of the mob, Steven Gorry, 31, of Sycamore Avenue, Newport, Miles Bishop, 34, of Pillmawr Circle, Newport, Gareth Elliott, 38, of Stanley Road, Garndiffaith, Pontypool and Geni Dragjoshi, 30, of Gomer Street, Willenhall, Walsall were told to pay back a nominal amount of £1.

Mr Rees said Gorry and Bishop had both benefitted by £9,811, Elliott by £4,000 and Dragjoshi by £6,125.

The gang targeted three homes in Chepstow, Monmouth and Peterston-super-Ely, in the Vale of Glamorgan, between June 26 and July 19 last year and the vehicles they stole included a Mercedes convertible worth £20,000 and an Audi TT sports car valued at £10,000.

They also made off with sentimental items including an MBE medal, an ornate Faberge egg and jewellery.

Last November, Coulson was jailed for nine years and was disqualified from driving for six-and-a-half years.

Gorry and Bishop were sentenced to seven years in jail and were disqualified from driving for five-and-a-half years.

The latter was sentenced in his absence after he absconded during his trial.

A Gwent Police spokesperson confirmed he is still on the run.

Elliott was sentenced to two years imprisonment and was disqualified from driving for two years and eight weeks. He was also sentenced to additional 16 weeks imprisonment for a breach of a suspended sentence.

Coulson, Bishop and Gorry had each denied a charge of conspiracy to commit burglary and a conspiracy to steal cars, while Elliott denied one count of handling stolen goods.

All four were found guilty of their respective charges after a trial with Bishop also admitting three counts of handling stolen goods.

Dragjoshi was sentenced for handling stolen goods and received 12 months in jail and an 18-month driving ban.

The first raid was in Park Road, Monmouth, between June 26 and July 12, while a family were away on holiday.

The third burglary took place in Wallwern Road, Chepstow, on the night of July 18 during which the Mercedes was stolen.

Gwent Police Detective Constable Carrie Streeter, who led the case, said: “I would like to reassure our local residents that we are committed to tackling these types of reckless crimes and we will continue to proactively stop criminals who profit from other people's misery.

“These five men broke into homes, stole people’s vehicles from their driveways along with sentimental valuables.

"The loss of these items has caused upset and financial loss to the victims.”