A member of a gang that committed several burglaries and violently car jacked a Good Samaritan has been jailed after his DNA was found in a stolen getaway car.

John McDonagh’s co-accused Michael Moorehouse, 28, Francis Conners, 21 and a 15-year-old were sentenced back in October 2016.

But 20-year-old McDonagh was only identified earlier this year from his DNA left in the BMW 330d, worth £27,000.

The four targeted homes in the Ashford and Maidstone areas in a matter of hours in June 2016, stealing tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and a safe.

They had the previous month burgled a house in Uxbridge, west London, and stolen the BMW from the owner.

They then headed down the M20 to Kent and raided and ransacked homes – two in Northumberland Road, Kennington, and others in Yeoman Lane, Bearsted, Ryarsh Road, Birling, and The Street, Hythe, where a Jaguar was also stolen.

They also attempted to break into a home in Hollow Lane, Snodland, before heading back up the M20.

They hurtled along the London-bound carriageway at 130mph before crashing into Harshad Patel’s Vauxhall Astra.

Both cars were written off, with the BMW coming to a stop sideways across the middle lane and Mr Patel knocked unconscious.

Adrian Wycherley stopped in his Honda Jazz. Leaving the keys in the ignition, he went to help, but Moorehouse ran from the BMW and shouted “Come on lads” to the others.

Mr Wycherley was pushed to the ground and suffered injuries to his face and arms.

A trucker who witnessed the robbery said it was the most horrific incident he had seen in 25 years of driving.

The four fled in his car, later found abandoned at Otford railway station. Their haul of jewellery was recovered from the wreckage of the BMW.

When Moorhouse, Conners and the 15-year-old were arrested in Essex a month later they had £1,300 in cash on them.

Judge Julian Smith said at Maidstone Crown Court the offences were “generally shocking and grotesque”.

Moorehouse, then 28, of Dagenham, Essex, was sentenced to seven years and four months, Conners, 21, from Dublin, to six years and the teenager, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, to two years detention and training.

McDonagh, of Brookes Place, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years youth custody after admitting conspiracy to burgle and robbery when he appeared in court on Friday.

Paul Crampin, defending, said the father had been looking over his shoulder for the past two years.

“He is particularly ashamed of being involved in this particular episode,” he said.

“This came about because he had his head turned by older men. He was offered £500 to act as a lookout.”

“It seems to me there was professionalism in some of the things done, but on the other hand there were things that were done which can only be described as chaotic and stupid...” - Judge Martin Huseyin

McDonagh had recently married and he was concerned about providing for his family. His wife had epilepsy.

“His main concern is to get back to his family,” said Mr Crampin. “He accepts he made a bad choice and he will have to live with the consequences.”

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Huseyin said: “Burglaries are horrible for home owners, particularly when some are older. They are particularly unpleasant if someone is in.

“It is even more distressing for householders when their property is ransacked. Damage is done over and above that which is necessary.

“It seems to me there was professionalism in some of the things done, but on the other hand there were things that were done which can only be described as chaotic and stupid.”

But the judge added there was another side to McDonagh and he was in a different category to Moorehouse and Conners.