IT WILL not have meant much to them, but two north Kent car thieves were part of a national first when they were convicted last week.

Sam Holmes, 22, and David Leadbeater, 23, played the "integral and fundamental" role of getaway drivers in a conspiracy which saw cars worth £457,000 stolen from Gravesend, Swanley and Longfield during a two-month period in 2012.

During their trial at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent Police and The Kent Criminal Justice Board became the first partnership in the country to successfully run a Crown Court trial using Live Link virtual court technology.

Officers from Lewisham, Essex, Folkestone and Canterbury appeared to give evidence via the Live Link system, saving 40-hours of their time and a 290 mile drive to and from court.

In total the evidence given by the five officers lasted 48 minutes and they were all able to get back to their regular duties straight after being seen.

Kent Police Insp Bob Platt said: "This is an exciting development which has huge potential to save a great deal of time and money whilst ensuring that justice is served."

Holmes and Leadbeater, from Mottingham and Eltham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle on April 19 – four days after the case had been listed for a six-week trial – and were each sentenced to six years in prison.