FOUR members of a burglary gang who raided the home of an elderly woman in Dunton Green, will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court next month.

The court heard how the gang purported to be from the water board when they burgled five houses, including that of Bertha Nerney, on Hillfield Road, Dunton Green. Once inside, they would steal whatever they could lay their hands on.

The men were brought to justice after their car number plate was taken down by a witness, and they were tracked via their mobile phones as they looked around for more elderly and vulnerable victims.

Richard McCarthy, 43, and 22-year-old Thomas McCarthy, both of Kings Road, West Drayton, Middlesex; Michael O'Driscoll, 32, of Northwood Park, Gloucester Road, Winterbourne, Bristol; and Peter Gilheney, 26, of Harold Hill in Romford, were all accused at Maidstone Crown Court of a series of raids in Kent, Hampshire and Surrey.

Richard McCarthy denied conspiracy to commit burglary and theft, but was convicted. Thomas McCarthy, Gilheney and Michael O'Driscoll had pleaded guilty to the offences.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place back at Maidstone on September 27.

Mrs Nerney has since died. Her obituary is on page 16.