Four men jailed for stealing 33 Land Rover Defenders

Four men have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 15 years in prison for a crime spree involving the theft of 33 Land Rover Defenders. The thefts, valued at over £600,000, occurred across six police force areas, including Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire, between September 2024 and May 2025.

Following an investigation codenamed Operation Liondale by West Mercia Police, Leonard Hodgkins received four years and nine months, Jimmy Butler received three years and eight months, Benjamin Hobbs received four years and four months, and David Hodgkins received three years. The gang utilized a workshop in Bristol as a ‘chop shop’ to process stolen parts and documentation.