Gang who ripped ATMs from walls jailed for ‘crippling businesses’
Written by News on 02/02/2020
Five men who used diggers to raid cash machines across the south east of England have been jailed for a total of 22 years.
The gang stole vehicles and tools worth more than £30,000 and caused almost £705,000 in damage to businesses.
In the early hours of 22 July 2019, they used a digger to pull an ATM from the side of a building in Brentwood Road, Essex.
They fled the scene in a van with stolen number plates, but were spotted by police and arrested.
Officers found more than £100,000 of cash in the vehicle, which had a specially gouged hole in the roof to allow them to quickly drop machines into.
Dramatic bodycam video shows one of the men being pinned to ground as he is detained.
Detectives were then able to link the organised crime network to four similar thefts in Kent over a six month period – in Broadstairs, Tunbridge Wells, Dartford and Gillingham.
Ringleader Adrian Gowers, 55, of Derwent Way, Gillingham, was sentenced to seven years and two months in jail at Woolwich Crown Court.
DI James Derham said his officers worked with “sheer tenacity” to “painstakingly” piece together the gang’s involvement “leaving these men with no other option but to admit their part in the conspiracy”.
He added: “These men had absolutely no regard for the damage their crimes had on the communities they targeted.
“They put the public in danger with their reckless actions, crippled businesses, caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage and stole plant machinery which prevented businesses from moving forward with building works.
“In short, their selfish actions had severe consequences for many people including the local communities who relied upon these facilities”.
Phillip Barnard, 25, of High Street, Chelmsford was jailed for three years and seven months, while David Eves, 48, of Larch Road, Dartford, got two years and three months.
John Lee, 49, of New Waverley Road, Basildon, was sentenced to five years and nine months.
Meanwhile, Billy John Lee, 28, also of New Waverley Road, Basildon, received three years and seven months.
(c) Sky News 2020: Gang who ripped ATMs from walls jailed for ‘crippling businesses’
