A gang which carried out more than 200 offences in a "vicious and prolific" crime wave has been jailed for a total of nearly 35 years.

The gang members' escalating violence culminated in a vicious attack on an off-duty police officer who confronted them as they tried to steal a car.

The four men and one woman were responsible for nearly 200 offences, including robberies, assault, burglaries and aggravated vehicle taking, Bradford Crown Court was told.

The five, all of Holme Wood, Bradford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and were caged for a total of 34 and a half years.

After the hearing Detective Sergeant Martin Taylor, who led the investigation, said he believed they had used gratuitous violence against the victims for the thrill of it.

"I have never come across a group that has exhibited such violence against their victims," he said.

"Apart from one case, I don't think what they stole exceeded £1,500 in value.

"They got something out of it, but not in terms of the property. I think they got an adrenaline rush, which makes it even more sinister."

Detective Inspector John Hoyle said the level of violence used against the victims was wanton and completely unnecessary.

"They seemed to think they had a right to intimidate, steal and attack innocent people," he said.

"During the summer of 2003 they engaged in a vicious and prolific crime campaign."

Yesterday, Judge Peter Benson sent George Runciman, 19, of Lymington Drive, to a young offender institution for 11 years, telling him the attack on the police officer was dreadful.

Runciman admitted causing Det Con Gregory grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest, aggravated vehicle taking and violent disorder. He asked for 85 other offences to be considered, mostly commercial burglaries where property stolen was valued at £60,000.

Barry Briggs, 28, of Broadstone Way, admitted conspiracy to rob and aggravated vehicle taking and was jailed for eight years. He asked for 54 further offences to be taken into consideration, half of them house burglaries with stolen property totalling £56,000.

Joanne Whiteley, 19, of Wolston Close, admitted wounding the officer with intent - after throwing a brick at his chest - conspiracy, aggravated vehicle taking and a distraction burglary at the home of an 80-year-old woman. She asked for 33 other offences to be considered, half of them house burglaries, and was locked up for six and a half years.

Lee Reilly, 20, of Purbeck Court, admitted robbery and violent disorder and was sent to a young offender institution for six years.

And a 17 year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was detained for three years after admitting conspiracy to rob and aggravated vehicle taking.

Prosecutor Ian Howard said during August 2003, the defendants, and others, had used stolen cars to drive between Holme Wood and Denholme in darkness, hoping to chance on people walking in isolated lanes.

The car would pull up alongside the victims and one or more of the gang would get out and rob them.

The court heard how one family's garden party was disrupted when the gang turned up looking for a car to steal.

Gordon Holden suffered a serious eye injury when he was struck by a hard object in a sock after he and his son, Charlton, went to investigate a man and a woman loitering near their car in Chilver Drive, Tong.

Charlton was also struck with a hard object, neighbour Ian Hirst was assaulted and Mr Holden's wife and daughter and two party guests were also viciously attacked.

The gang moved to Denbury Mount, Holme Wood, where pizza delivery driver Khadum Rehman was surrounded in his car. His windows were smashed with a golf club and he was made to get out. He was then punched and had his £200 takings stolen.

The following night a group of female friends were walking home from the Raggalds pub in Mill Lane, Queensbury, A car pulled up, a man got out and a woman had her bag stolen and another hit by a golf club.

The gang struck again as a young couple were walking in Brow Lane, Woodside. A car was driven at Dean Weston who fell to the ground where he was kicked and punched by four men.

He was bitten on the finger and had a ring stolen, but a DNA swab from the bite matched Briggs.

Two days later Runciman was driving the gang in a stolen car when he lost control and hit a wall. The group continued their journey on foot but were passed by Det Con Gregory in his car.

He became suspicious and parked up in the car park of the Five Flags Hotel on the Keighley to Halifax road at Denholme.

Four of the group began looking at a car and the officer confronted them, saying 'stop, police,' and showing his warrant card.

Runciman hit him on the head with a crowbar, knocking him to his knees. He was then hit on the arm as he tried to protect himself and was struck by a third blow on the shoulder.

Det Con Gregory grabbed the weapon but was punched and kicked by others in the group before they left. He suffered a fractured cheekbone, dislocated shoulder and cuts to his head needing six stitches.

Det Sgt Taylor said his colleague's brave actions proved to be the "catalyst" which eventually saw the five defendants arrested and charged.