THE ringleaders of a fast and slick gang of career criminals who staged more than 20 raids on cash machines and shops have been convicted.

The eight-week trial at Winchester Crown Court convicted Danny Stevens (23), his wife Carmella Collins (25), Christopher Mintern (37) and Joseph Smith (20) of crimes carried out over a period of nearly two years.

Among the cash machines targeted across three counties were Abbey National, Wey Hill, and Roberts Stores, Chiddingfold, in March 2001, and Chandlers Garage, The Green, Elstead, in December 2000.

The convictions bring to an end a meticulous two-year investigation across three police force areas in Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.

The investigation, codenamed Operation Dartboard, found the gang was responsible for more than 60 crimes, stealing high-performance four-wheel-drive vehicles, one of which was used to reverse into a target premises containing a cash machine, before escaping at high speed.

When the raiders were caught last year and remanded in custody until their trial, the incidence of similar crimes plummeted.

Senior investigating officer DCI Bob Crampton said: "This is a team of very determined criminals whose activities caused mayhem and misery. They had no hesitation in using extreme violence against the police in order to evade capture and were a substantial public safety risk in the way they used high-powered vehicles."

When police followed the gang, they attempted to disable officers by throwing large items in the path of their vehicles or deliberately ramming them.

"They drove recklessly and at high speeds with no concern for safety, frequently driving down country lanes at night without headlights".

In April and May 2001, a covert police operation was mounted using advanced surveillance techniques.

Frank Clarke, the Assistant Chief Constable of Surrey police, the lead investigating force, congratulated officers from all three forces on their "excellent and highly professional police work, often carried out at no small risk to themselves".

"It resulted in the successful conviction of the ringleaders for a series of very serious crimes."

Sentencing will take place on July 12.