MEMBERS of a professional gang which stole £23,479 worth of bikes have been jailed.

The group of five sought out expensive bikes from York, North Yorkshire, and Teesside, scouring university campuses, hospitals and workplaces and then selling them on, York Crown Court heard. In total, there were 48 incidents committed across the North East.

Bryan Craig Horrigan, 42, of Bankhead Road in Northallerton, Darren Peter Ellis, 38, of Borough Road in Middlesbrough, Chantelle Louise Serginson, of Bridge Street West in Middlesbrough and Christopher Wilson, 27, of Caemavor Close in Middlesbrough, all pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal bicycles between April and July last year. A fifth person had already been sentenced for the matter in a youth court.

Recorder Andrew Stubbs QC said the group had committed "deliberate, planned, professional" crimes which affected a great many people, including school children.

He said about York: "It has caused uncertainty among those who use bike around this city as so many people do.

"You will have taken from these school children the most expensive item they possess."

The court heard how Ellis was involved in all but one of the thefts, initially getting lifts from Serginson. Wilson offered advice on the cost of the bikes, some of which were known to have been taken to his home, before they were sold on.

At around the time Serginson, who was involved in 25 of the incidents, decided not to carry on, Horrigan became involved. He and Ellis were seen taking trains from Middlesbrough to Thornaby and Thirsk where they were spotted donning high visibility vests to inspect bikes.

York in particular was targeted with victims including a hotel worker, who said her partner had worked hard to pay for her bike and that after it was stolen she was forced to walk a ten mile round trip to and from work.

A student at the University of York said the theft had left "a bitter taste in his mouth" and that lack of money meant he had to buy a much cheaper bike.

Many of those affected did not have insurance and some had to pay a large excess to make insurance claims.

In mitigation, the court heard that Horrigan had not been involved in all of the thefts and had entered an early guilty plea. Ellis should also receive credit for an early guilty plea, his barrister Robert Mochrie said. Serginson was funding a drug addiction triggered by a serious accident, Nigel Edwards said. Wilson was not actively involved in the thefts and was needed at home to help with the care of five children, two of whom are disabled, Kieron Rainey told the court.

Ellis was sentenced to 35 months for his role in the conspiracy, with the court hearing how he had a criminal record of 32 convictions for 76 offences including theft of bikes.

Sentencing Wilson to 20 months in prison, Recorder Stubbs QC said his expertise had enabled the group to steal to order.

Serginson played a "vital" role in the thefts, the recorder said, before sentencing her to a total of 24 months in prison - 14 for the offence and an additional ten due to the activation of a suspended sentence. Horrigan, who had 45 convictions for 113 offences, was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Recorder Stubbs QC commended the extensive work of the British Transport Police in bringing the case to justice.