Six members of the same family will be sentenced today for their involvement in the theft of more than 150 catalytic converters from cars in Brent and across London.

The McDonagh family - Gerard, 31, Martin, 37, Joseph, 31 John, 32, all from Edmonton, Michael, 31, from Wood Green, and Kevin, 19, from Enfield, were snared after detectives at Brent Police launched in an investigation following a catalogue of thefts in the borough.

They all admitted being part of a sophisticated crime syndicate who struck across the city.

It is believed the converters, which stop harmful exhaust gasses being emitted by cars, were stolen as they contain precious metals such as platinum and palladium.

In August, Gerard, Martin, Joseph, Michael and Kevin admitted conspiring with each other to steal catalytic converters from motor vehicles and John pleaded guilty to five counts of theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles.

There has been a slump in catalytic converters thefts across London since their arrest.

All six all appear at Harrow Crown Court this afternoon.

Related link: Family behind catalytic converter thefts in London are snared by Brent Police