TWO professional burglars have been jailed for a nationwide series of raids on golf clubs, including one at Crewe.

Daniel Lloyd, 43, of the Holwood Estate, Westerham Road, Keston, and Joe McCaughey, aged 26, of King Henry’s Drive, New Addington, Croydon, were found guilty of conspiracy to burgle following a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

They received five and three years respectively.

The pair committed a burglary at Crewe golf club in August 2009, as part of at least 36 separate burglaries in 17 counties.

Steve Baldwin, head of regional investigations for the National Crime Agency, said: “These men were professional burglars who tried to mask their identities by avoiding CCTV cameras, changing their clothes to enter the same clubs over and over again, and using false number plates on their vehicles.

“We proved they had stolen equipment from hundreds of golfers, which they disposed of here and overseas. Our focus is now the financial side of the investigation and stripping them of their assets.”

The pair came to the attention of the National Crime Agency following an investigation into a corrupt criminal defence lawyer who was sentenced last year for perverting the course of justice.

Lloyd was one of the lawyer’s close associates and was arrested at the time.

Officers believe he funded his lifestyle solely by committing crime.

In addition to a luxury house worth over £800,000, Lloyd drove a Bentley and Range Rover.

The duo moved around clubhouses in golf attire and even chatted to other golfers.

They often duped members of staff into accessing changing rooms, where they stole full sets of golf clubs, shoes and clothing.

The main vehicle they used was a Chrysler Grand Voyager which was registered to an address linked to Lloyd.

He sold the vehicle shortly after a Crimewatch programme hoping to trace the burglars was aired.