Geoffrey Manning, 33, John Smith, 35, and Wesley Smith, 26, hit Tesco in Wellingborough four times during a string of raids on cash machines at big-name retailers across the Midlands.

The gang also targeted Morrisons in Corby and Waitrose in Rushden as well as Tesco in Kettering.

They quickly identified Tesco as their "favourite" target because its machines were easy to extract and empty, Lincoln Crown Court was told yesterday.

Of the trio's 55 crimes between April 2006 and October 2007, 28 were committed at the company's stores - netting them around £640,000.

Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, said: "On arriving at their target they would try to smash the door down with a sledge-hammer or, if that was unsuccessful, use a heavy-duty drill.

"They used a series of high-performance getaway cars with stolen numberplates. On some occasions they would be in and out within minutes."

Manning, of Seadyke Bank, Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to burgle between April 1 2006 and October 31 2007.

John Smith, of Edgerley Drain Road, Peterborough, Cambbridgeshire, and his cousin Wesley Smith, of Palmers Road, Peterborough, admitted the same offence.

Steven Upton, 27, of Seadyke Road, Wisbech St Mary, who acted as a getaway driver for Manning, also pleaded guilty to the same offence.

Jason Bingley, 29, of East Water Crescent, Peterborough, and Ross Drew, 35, of Godwit Crescent, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, each admitted conspiracy to steal.

The court was told the Bingley and Drew, who ran a car dealership in the Peterborough area, supplied the raiders with their getaway vehicles.

Manning, John Smith, Wesley Smith and Upton were each jailed for nine years, while Bingley and Drew were both given 15 months.

Balraj Bhatia, in mitigation, said Manning, a father-of-five, became involved in crime in an attempt to pay off "substantial gambling debts".

The court heard both Smiths were "family men" who regretted getting involved and had avoided confrontation whenever possible during the raids.