Two brothers and an accomplice who were charged after stealing batteries worth £50,000 from phone masts around Dartford and other parts of Kent have been jailed.

John Dunn pleaded guilty to theft at Maidstone Crown Court in May, after the three were arrested in a van in West Kingsdown last August.

Tom Dunn and Absolem Brown were convicted of theft and conspiracy to commit burglary after a seven-day trial.

The men were arrested after officers spotted them in the van, which looked "overweight", and pulled it over.

After checking the vehicle, they found 68 batteries inside, which Brown said were going to be sold as scrap.

The van was seized as well as three mobile phones and the men were arrested.

After the batteries were inspected, some were identified to be stolen from a phone mast in Hook Green Road in Southfleet.

Tom Dunn's fingerprints were also found on several batteries.

At a sentencing today, 32-year-old Dunn was jailed for two years and nine months, 34-year-old Dunn was sentenced to two years and six months and 53-year-old Brown was jailed for two years and four months.

Detective Constable Ben Willbye, investigating officer, said: "These men conspired to break into secure compounds to steal batteries for the lead found inside them.

"Their crimes involved significant planning and damage was caused at the phone mast compounds to gain entry during the hours of darkness.

"The disruption to phone networks was significant as was the cost of replacing the batteries. It is only right that their criminal activities have led to lengthy prison sentences."