TWO brothers who broke into scores of cars at beauty spots across south Wiltshire and Dorset have been jailed.

Edward and Lenny Wells stole handbags, wallets, purses, sat-navs, mobile phones and other items worth up to £20,000 over three months from November 2016.

Both men were on licence from prison for similar offences at the time.

Jailing them for 44 months each for conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles, Judge Susan Evans QC said: "When you target handbags and wallets people lose items of substantial value which leads to high level of inconvenience."

Prosecuting at Salisbury Crown Court on Thursday, Edward Elton said 104 cars had been broken into.

Both men pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for most, but not all of the 104 offences.

The court heard they targeted isolated, rural car parks, breaking into vehicles and taking items including 44 handbags and 13 purses and wallets.

On other occasions cash, jewellery, and even dog food was stolen.

Evidence linking the pair to the crimes included their mobile phones activating the nearest mast at the time of the offences.

Lenny, aged 30 and from Eyres Way, Salisbury, had three previous convictions for four theft offences.

Edward, aged 28 and from Lynch Close, Mere, had "an extensive record" of 18 convictions for 27 offences including theft, fraud and burglary.

Both men were jailed in 2015 alongside their brother Nicholas and father Wilfred for conspiracy to steal from cars in what was described as "a family business".

Mr Elton said: "It's hard to consider what would be more inconvenient to any victim than losing a handbag, purse, wallet or mobile phone."

Defending, Berenice Mulvanny said Edward, who had a young son, had struggled with drug addiction.

And barrister Richard Onslow said Lenny, a father of three, had turned to drink after splitting from his partner.

"His world rather fell apart," he said.

"He regrets enormously that he went back to his old ways."