A MOTORBIKE theft gang, who operated throughout Gwent, dubbed themselves "Robbers Are Us", a court heard.

They had business cards printed, promising "nationwide theft - strictly bikes and cars". The gang targeted high-performance motorbikes, and sometimes cars, in a real-life version of the Hollywood movie Gone In 60 Seconds.

Leon Gooding, aged 27, of Bronte Crescent, Terry Sanders, aged 21, of Malmesmead Road, David Jordan, aged 25, of Penrhos Crescent, Leslie Thomas, aged 22, of Clevedon Road - all Llanrumney, Cardiff - Robert Beer, aged 23, of Glyn Collen, Cardiff, and Damien Sparkes, aged 22, of Shamrock Road, Pentrebane, Cardiff, were members of the gang.

Newport crown court heard that Gwent Police set up a taskforce, Operation Chains, to catch the gang.

The court heard that the man police believe was the ringleader, Nathan Spinks, is thought to be somewhere in America.

Gooding, Sparkes, Sanders, Beer and Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft. Beer and Gooding also admitted making off without payment from a petrol station and two counts of attempted theft, and Thomas admitted theft of motorbike jackets. Jordan pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted theft.

Mr Evans said on January 18 last year the gang tried to steal a motorbike from a garage in Magor and stole a Ford Transit van and tried to steal another motorbike. On February 11 a stolen Ford Escort was stopped in Risca with Gooding and Saunders inside.

On March 13, a man identifying himself as Spinks turned up at a house and said a stolen Honda motorbike could be returned for £800, the court was told.

The gang also broke into lockers at Newport and Caerphilly leisure centres to get car keys and are believed to have taken cars from outside.

Mr Evans said: "In late August police carried out house searches, and a letter from Spinks to Thomas asking for highly desirable and expensive high-performance motorbikes was found, as was a business-style card reading Robbers Are Us - nationwide theft, strictly bikes and cars."

Beer, Sparkes and Thomas were jailed for 14 months for conspiracy and six months to run concurrently for the other offences.

Sparkes was also sentenced to ten months to run consecutively for a series of offences referred from magistrates court, including aggravated vehicle taking. Sanders and Jordan were both jailed for ten months.

Gooding was sentenced to 14 months, with six months for all remaining counts to run concurrently, which was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs.