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Watches and jewellery seized from a notorious Northamptonshire crime family has been sold for nearly £30,000 on eBay.

Police used new legislation to force James Devlin and his three sons to forfeit belongings when they were declared unable to pay back nearly £86,000 to cover costs of tools and goods stolen during a massive crime spree.

The sale included a diamond ring which netted £13,433, and two Rolex watches that sold for more than £10,000. In addition, more than £9,000 in cash was also recovered.

Half of the £29,015 recovered will go to the Home Office with Northamptonshire Police retaining the rest.

DS Giles Campling, from the Force’s Financial Investigation Unit, said: “This gang was behind more than 120 thefts across the county and were successfully convicted in 2019.

"Using a new strand of legislation under the Proceeds of Crime Act we have been able to seized assets, in this case jewellery, which were found during our investigation.

“The vast majority of crime we see is carried out through greed to make money and to lead an easy lifestyle.

Officers seized two Rolex watches and diamond rings after the Devlins were sentenced last year. Photos: Northamptonshire Police

"The POCA legislation is a powerful tool which can claw back money from criminals, even those serving jail terms. It sends a message to others that a life of crime does not pay.”

A major investigation launched following thefts — mainly of tools from motor vehicles across South Northamptonshire — resulted in a raid on the Dun Roamin caravan park, near Brackley, in February 2018.

James Devlin, 51, and his sons Jimmy Noel and Hughie — aged between 20 and 29 — all received jail terms of between 12 and 18 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal property in June 2019.

A youth, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a youth rehabilitation order with two years supervision, six months on a tagged night time curfew and 120 hours of unpaid work.

James Devlin and his son Jimmy were both jailed in June last year.

Northampton Crown Court was told the gang amassed their haul by mainly targeting trade vans as well as goods from shops and petrol stations.

This was one of the first successes for the Force’s own eBay site after years selling assets via another force’s site paying them a small commission.

Crime gang's Rolex and diamonds sold for £30,000 on Northamptonshire Police eBay site