A prolific ATM thief has been handed a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO), the first of its kind for such an offender in Cambridgeshire.

Tony Smith, 23, of Cadwin Field, Willingham, was given the five-year SCPO at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday, March 6.

The order places a number of restrictions on Smith and is designed to prevent him from reoffending. The restrictions include…

Limiting the number of phones he can own and ways in which he can use them, including registering them with his call service provider and the police

 Limiting the amount of cash he can possess

Limiting the number of bank accounts he can use

Limiting his ownership and use of vehicles

Limiting possession of electronic key fobs and electrical tools, including cutting equipment

The order comes after Smith was sentenced alongside three others in January for his part in a spate of ATM thefts across three counties.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris O’Brien, said: “This is a fantastic result on top of Smith’s six-year, four month custodial sentence handed to him in January and shows just how seriously we take these crimes.

“This is the first time a SCPO has been handed to an ATM offender in Cambridgeshire and the aim is to help tackle reoffending and make it harder for criminals to commit crimes in the future.

“Smith has also been disqualified from driving for three years from his release and will have to complete an extended retest.

“He caused havoc and misery across three counties to both businesses and individuals. I am so glad justice has been done and hope this serves as a warning to any other would-be offenders.”