A KIDDERMINSTER man has been given a five-year jail sentence for his part in a £500,000 vehicle theft scam.

Karl Dana Harper, of Usmere Road, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal vehicles at an earlier hearing and was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mr Harper, 39, who denied the charge, was one of six people jailed following a police investigation called Operation Jackal.

The group, which stole almost 40 vehicles, targeted people who were advertising in trader magazines, mainly Midlands Autotrader. After telephoning the seller, viewing the cars and agreeing a price, payment was made by forged bankers' draft.

They were then usually sold on to second-hand car dealerships for cash and the scam only came to light when the new owners registered the vehicles with the DVLA.

Detective Sergeant Richard Warner of West Mercia Constabulary said: "We are pleased that a well-organised criminal gang has been dismantled."