A DRUG addict caught in Worcestershire driving away a stolen caravan after taking part in a night-time raid had been jailed.

Edward Knight had been asked to act as a look-out for thieves planning a sophisticated attack to steal three caravans worth a total of nearly £60,000, Worcester Crown Court was told.

They struck at Cotswold Edge Leisure Vehicles in Beckford, near Broadway, on the night of July 13 this year, Michael Conry, prosecuting, told the court.

Hedges were cut from a neighbouring field and an alarmed fence was bypassed to gain access and Knight, who had been paid £150 and thought he would be stationed as a look-out, was then asked to drive one of the getaway vehicles.

He was stopped by police at 5am on the A46 near Evesham as he was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser with no lights to try and avoid drawing attention, the court heard.

He had a driving licence but it did not cover him to tow the weight of the large caravan, which was worth over £20,000, Mr Conry said.

Tracking devices in the other two caravans were found removed and discarded in a water trough and they have not been recovered.

Knight pleaded guilty to theft, driving without the proper licence and having no insurance.

The court heard he was in breach of a sentence of 16 months suspended for two years he was given at Oxford Crown Court in April this year for robbery offences.

Jason Patel, defending, said Knight had a long standing drug addiction and had been offered the payment by a stranger to be a look-out. He took it because it would mean a break from having to beg for money, Mr Patel said. He was given a mobile phone and told to watch out for the authorities but the ringleaders then told him and two others to drive the vehicles under directions while they followed nearby.

He said the 37-year-old had been taking steps to tackle his addiction.

Judge Nicholas Cole said Knight had not been the mastermind of the raid but knew he was to take part in criminal activity.

He was given a sentence of 12 months for the theft and the suspended sentence was activated in full, making a total of two years and four months. He was also given nine points in his licence for the other motoring offences.