A thief who stripped five Audis of their alloy wheels in a £35,000 forecourt raid in Crewe has been jailed for four years.

Scott Meakin of Sutcliffe Street, Royton, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a motor vehicle at Chester Crown Court following two incidents at Swansway’s Crewe Audi facility in December 2016, the Crewe Chronicle reported.

On December 4 the 28-year-old stripped the alloy wheels of five Audis parked on the forecourt of the dealership.

A week later, on Sunday, December 11, Meakin and an accomplice returned to but fled after they were disturbed.

The Chronicle reported that Meakin originally denied being involved in either of the thefts when he was first arrested, and continued to deny being involved throughout subsequent police interviews.

Evidence from his mobile phone was able to place him at the garage at the time the first incident occurred, however.

Police were also able to determine that Meaking had attended five other Audi garages in Macclesfield, Carlisle, Manchester, Preston and Bolton when similar offences had been committed there.

Investigating officer Det Sgt Richard Johnson said: “Meakin was left with no option but to plead guilty to all of the charges brought against him.”