TWO men have been jailed and another handed a suspended sentence after a stolen Audi was recovered in St Helens.

Officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), supported by local officers from St Helens, arrested three men and recovered the Audi after executing warrrants on Thursday, November 22.

The warrants followed a burglary at a house on London Road, Appleton, Warrington overnight on Sunday, October 21, and the theft of an Audi RS5 car outside the address.

St Helens Star:

Lee Leatherbarrow

The car was found later that morning in Lower Hall Street, St Helens.

The three men pleaded guilty and were sentenced yesterday Monday, May 20 at Chester Crown Court.

Lee Leatherbarrow, 29, of Moorwood Crescent, St Helens was jailed for three years, 10 months for conspiracy to commit burglary

Samuel Robinson, 26, of Duke Street, St Helens was jailed for two years for theft (of the Audi).

A third man, Michael Wellens, 26, of Gloucester Road, St Helens was given a two year suspended sentence for theft of the Audi.

The men were identified as the offenders following an investigation by NWROCU, involving the examination of CCTV footage and phone records.

After their arrests, a pair of Rayban sunglasses that had been in the stolen car were found in Robinson’s flat.

Detective Inspector Nick Hughes said: “We welcome the sentencing and I hope the efforts of our officers to apprehend these three offenders shows how seriously the NWROCU takes burglary.

“Theft and burglary has a massive and lasting effect on victims and we will do everything in our power to trace those responsible and bring them to justice.

“I hope the time Leatherbarrow and Robinson spend in custody will give them time to reflect on the consequences of their actions.”