THREE men who broke into Warrington schools, causing more than £50,000 worth of damage and stealing equipment, have been jailed for a total of eight and a half years.

Cuneyt Bulut, 26, Craig Taylor, 31, and 28-year-old Blue Richardson forced their way into Culcheth High School, Culcheth Primary School, Newchurch Primary School, Bruche Primary School and Hollins Green Primary School on multiple occasions between November 2014 and July 2015.

They were looking for high value IT equipment, including laptops, and caused ‘significant’ damage to the school buildings. Some of the raids involved large holes being ripped through the walls.

Culcheth Primary was targeted four times, Culcheth High was broken into three times and Newchurch Primary twice.

On one occasion, a classroom wall was smashed at Culcheth Primary and 72 mini iPads were stolen.

In total the trio are thought to have cost the five schools £52,198 worth of damage and equipment.

Prosecuting, Kyra Badman said: “Each time there was a break in, a crude entry point was used and damage was caused.

“There was a significant degree of loss on each occasion to the schools, which were deliberately targeted. There must have been significant planning involved and the defendants went equipped with crowbars.”

On occasions schools were broken into through the panel of a classroom door or through the room and sometimes nothing was stolen.

Most of the incidents happened at night and the defendants were identified through their footwear and DNA.

Bulut, from Little Hulton, Taylor, from Tyldesley and Richardson, who is already serving a jail sentence, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday and all pleaded guilty to the conspiracy.

Defending Taylor, Andrew Scott said: “He had a past when he was younger but completely rebuilt his life. He had a relationship and children and trained as a gas fitter. But the relationship broke down and he returned to drugs and that’s the reason he was involved.

“He has let down his grandmother, for whom he is the sole carer, and his 10-year-old son who he will now have left behind.”

Alex Langhorn, defending Bulut, said: “The people he has let down are here supporting him. He has an 18-month-old son and his partner and his parents will be left without him.

“Whilst on bail he had a number of achievements within the building trade and is someone who can make better use of his life.”

In defence of Taylor, Andrew Evans said: “He’s had quite an awakening. He has an 18-month-old daughter and their relationship is that of the prison visiting room. But he is working hard to try and better himself.”

Judge Nicholas Woodward sentenced Taylor and Richardson to 36 months in prison each and Bulut was jailed for 30 months.