A KIDDERMINSTER man was a member of a gang dealing in stolen high-value vehicles worth a total of £500,000.

The involvement of Karl Dana Harper, 39, of Usmere Road, was discovered after a major investigation - codenamed Operation Jackal - by West Mercia Constabulary's crime squad.

Harper denied a charge of conspiracy to steal vehicles but was found guilty by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, together with Tony Andrew Lloyd, 38, of Stroud Avenue, Willenhall, who was also found guilty after denying the same charge.

Three other men and a woman admitted conspiracy to steal vehicles, while another man was cleared.

Operation Jackal was set up to investigate criminals preying on people who advertise vehicles in trade magazines, mainly Midland Autotrader.

Members of the gang rang sellers and arranged to view vehicles. Once a price had been agreed, payment was made by forged banker's draft which could take up to seven days to clear.

In the meantime the stolen vehicles were usually sold on to second-hand car dealerships, which would pay them in cash.

The dealerships carried out checks but did not realise there was anything wrong and, in some cases, sold the vehicles on to innocent buyers.

The deception only came to light when the new owner registered the vehicle with the DVLA.

Almost 40 vehicles, worth a total of £500,000, were involved.

Det Insp Richard Warner, the senior investigating officer, said: "The offenders took advantage of the general misperception that banker's drafts are a secure means of payment and come with some form of guarantee that the money will be paid."

He added: "The forgeries were of a very high quality and, in many cases, also deceived counter staff at banks and building societies.

"Our advice is that sellers should not let vehicles out of their possession until they are sure a banker's draft is genuine and this can only be done by checking with the bank."

Det Chief Supt Trevor Albutt, head of CID at West Mercia, said: "This was a well organised criminal gang and we are delighted we brought their activities to an end."

Defendants who admitted conspiracy to steal vehicles were Phillip William Hall, 44, of Leadbetter Drive, Bromsgrove; Dean William Tunnicliff, 31, of Penshaw Close, Pendeford, Wolverhampton; Sheryl Marie Cooper, 25, of Mendip Road, Halesowen; and Ashley Alan Dad, 24, of Edinburgh Drove, Willenhall.

Sentencing of the six people convicted was adjourned.

Martin John Lloyd, 37, of Farmhouse Road, Willenhall, the brother of Tony Andrew Lloyd, denied the charge and was found not guilty.