THREE men who broke into a parked car at an Oxfordshire beauty spot on a Sunday to steal a purse have been sentenced.

Henry Willett, David Willet and David Wells were caught in the act by police when they targetted cars parked at Ashbury Hill near the Ridgeway in southern Oxfordshire - a scenic spot popular for family outings.

Officers said they watched the trio prowling around parked cars in the area on Sunday, January 17.

After a silver Ford Focus was broken into and a red purse stolen, the officers arrested the men and found David Willet had the stolen purse and Henry Willett had various Ford keys and sharpened nail picks.

They were charged the following day and sentenced at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Tuesdsay this week.

Henry Willett, 48, of Winston Close, Southampton, pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicle interference and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.

David Wells, 54, of Shrewton, Salisbury, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a motor vehicle.

They were both fined £120 and ordered to pay a victims' surcharge of £20 and costs of £85 each.

David Willett, 43, of Denzil Avenue, Southampton, pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicle interference and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.

He was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, given a three-month overnight curfew and ordered to pay an £80 victims' surcharge and £85 costs.

Investigating officer PC Robert Maris from the Faringdon Neighbourhood Team, said: “Faringdon Neighbourhood Team has increased efforts to tackle the problem of beauty spot thefts in our area over the past few months, working with the National Trust and other stakeholders to better inform and educate users of the car parks.

“We are regularly having to replace signs taken down by individuals and, during our regular patrols of the car parks, are still finding people leaving items on display.

“These convictions come as a result of a rural crime operation held over a number of days. We would like to reassure the community we are doing everything we can to prosecute individuals by operations like this and maximising forensic opportunities where possible but it is particularly difficult to identify lines of enquiry due to the nature of the locations involved.

“I would like to urge members of the public to continue to take your valuables with you, report suspicious behaviour at the earliest opportunity and remind your friends, family and fellow dog walkers to do the same.”