August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

LONDON, Aug 6: Five gang members have been jailed for a series of raids on stately homes, including Britain’s biggest domestic burglary, police said on Wednesday.

They stole antiques and art treasures worth millions of pounds from country houses across central and southern England.

Their crime spree included a raid on Ramsbury Manor, the Wiltshire mansion owned by property developer Harry Hyams.

They broke into the 17th century house in February 2005, stealing paintings, clocks, furniture and other items which police valued at 22m pounds. A judge described it as the country’s biggest ever private house burglary.

The five men — all members of the same traveller family — were found guilty of conspiracy to burgle at Reading Crown Court. They are:

* Ricky Johnson, 54, jailed for eight years

* Richard Chad Johnson, 33, (11 years)

* Albie Johnson, 25, (nine years)

* Michael Nicholls, 29, (10 years)

* Danny O’Loughlin, 32, (11 years).—Reuters