A CORNISH criminal who launched a shocking campaign of intimidation towards business rivals across the South West, including one in Mid Devon, has been jailed for 12 years.

Jack Frederick Leonard Harvey built his plant hire business by frightening off rivals torching thousands of pounds worth of their machinery and handling stolen items which he disguised as his own.

Firms in Copplestone near Crediton, and Newton Abbot were among those attacked, and left with a combined compensation claim of more than £1 million.

Harvey, of Truro, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for seven counts of arson following his three-week trial at Truro Crown Court earlier this summer, and last week he pleaded guilty to nine offences of handing stolen goods,

Two accomplices, Alan James Dunn and Allan Percy Peters, also from Truro, were jailed for seven years each for their roles.

Dept Supt Michele Slevin said: "For many years Jack Harvey has believed he is above the law and could never be caught. He used intimidation and threats to secure contracts and build his business on the proceeds of crime."

Harvey was the ringleader but also recruited associates who travelled around Devon and Cornwall — including Copplestone — setting fire to machinery belonging to competitors in an effort to damage their business.

In May 2009, police sprang operation Sebulba, which involved more than 100 officers launching a 48-hour raid on Harvey's premises.

Police joined forces with the Environment Agency, HMRC, the local authority, and the National Plant and Equipment Register, where officers later discovered more than 40 stolen plant vehicles.

The cargo included articulated trailers and dumper trucks, taken from companies across Britain and handled by Harvey. Police said he even passed off some of the plant as his own, re-spraying the bodywork to hide another company's logo.