Menu
18/01/2011
Six Convicted Over 'SAS-Style' Robberies
Six men have been convicted at court for committing a string of 'SAS-style' robberies across London and three counties.
The gang, who dressed in black uniforms complete with balaclavas, would arm themselves with machetes, firearms and Tasers to raid building societies and commercial businesses in East London, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
During one incident members of the gang smashed their way into a building society in Holt, Norfolk. They escaped with £81,000 in cash and one startled witness commented that they looked like members of the SAS swooping on the quaint market town.
On another occasion they fired a Taser at a G4S worker as he delivered cash to a supermarket in Kings Lynn. They escaped with £21,000.
Other members of the gang had also targeted car dealerships and had managed to escape from a Nissan garage in Bury St Edmunds with a Nissan Navara 4x4 worth more than £40,000. The vehicle was later used to carry out further armed robberies.
One of the men involved, Mark Richards, 29, from Essex admitted his role in the operation at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 13 August 2010. He pleaded guilty to three armed robberies and three counts of conspiracy to burgle between 2007 and 2009.
The other defendants were convicted at the same court of robbery offences amounting to £500,000 in cash being stolen, as well as stealing a significant number of high-performance vehicles.
The alleged ringleader of the plots, Danny Speed, 29, from Beckton, was convicted of four armed robberies as well as three counts of conspiracy to burgle between 2007 and 2009.
He appeared with: Lee Watson, 43, from Beckton, convicted of four armed robberies between 2007 and 2009; Andrew McCracken, 30, from Dagenham, convicted of three armed robberies between 2007 and 2008; James Cook, 29, also from Dagenham convicted of one count of conspiracy to burgle in 2009; and Scott Guy, 36, of no fixed abode convicted of one armed robbery in 2009.
Two further men, James Sweeney, 30, from Essex and Aaron Wiltshire, 23, from Dagenham were acquitted of committing an armed robbery in Essex in 2009.
Detective Inspector Jason Hendy, of the Metropolitan Police Service's Flying Squad, said: "The results follow a lengthy operation designed to target violent individuals who would stop at nothing to secure large sums of money by force.
"They operated as a professional criminal network making sure they stole the best vehicles to carry out the most brazen raids. We dedicated significant resources to track them down and ensure we built a strong case to present to court.
"The convictions demonstrate our commitment to deal with violent and organised crime in our communities."
The men will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 4 February 2011.
(BMcN/KMcA)
The gang, who dressed in black uniforms complete with balaclavas, would arm themselves with machetes, firearms and Tasers to raid building societies and commercial businesses in East London, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
During one incident members of the gang smashed their way into a building society in Holt, Norfolk. They escaped with £81,000 in cash and one startled witness commented that they looked like members of the SAS swooping on the quaint market town.
On another occasion they fired a Taser at a G4S worker as he delivered cash to a supermarket in Kings Lynn. They escaped with £21,000.
Other members of the gang had also targeted car dealerships and had managed to escape from a Nissan garage in Bury St Edmunds with a Nissan Navara 4x4 worth more than £40,000. The vehicle was later used to carry out further armed robberies.
One of the men involved, Mark Richards, 29, from Essex admitted his role in the operation at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 13 August 2010. He pleaded guilty to three armed robberies and three counts of conspiracy to burgle between 2007 and 2009.
The other defendants were convicted at the same court of robbery offences amounting to £500,000 in cash being stolen, as well as stealing a significant number of high-performance vehicles.
The alleged ringleader of the plots, Danny Speed, 29, from Beckton, was convicted of four armed robberies as well as three counts of conspiracy to burgle between 2007 and 2009.
He appeared with: Lee Watson, 43, from Beckton, convicted of four armed robberies between 2007 and 2009; Andrew McCracken, 30, from Dagenham, convicted of three armed robberies between 2007 and 2008; James Cook, 29, also from Dagenham convicted of one count of conspiracy to burgle in 2009; and Scott Guy, 36, of no fixed abode convicted of one armed robbery in 2009.
Two further men, James Sweeney, 30, from Essex and Aaron Wiltshire, 23, from Dagenham were acquitted of committing an armed robbery in Essex in 2009.
Detective Inspector Jason Hendy, of the Metropolitan Police Service's Flying Squad, said: "The results follow a lengthy operation designed to target violent individuals who would stop at nothing to secure large sums of money by force.
"They operated as a professional criminal network making sure they stole the best vehicles to carry out the most brazen raids. We dedicated significant resources to track them down and ensure we built a strong case to present to court.
"The convictions demonstrate our commitment to deal with violent and organised crime in our communities."
The men will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 4 February 2011.
(BMcN/KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 January 2010
Robbers Jailed For 21 Years
Three men who committed a series of cash in transit robberies across north east London, amassing over £300,000, have been jailed for a total of 21 years.
Robbers Jailed For 21 Years
Three men who committed a series of cash in transit robberies across north east London, amassing over £300,000, have been jailed for a total of 21 years.
12 November 2014
Sheffield United Urged To Reconsider Evans Decision
Sheffield United have been urged to reconsider its decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with the club. Sheffield Central MP Paul Bloomfield said if the club proceeded it would send "a disturbing message to young people and victims of sexual violence".
Sheffield United Urged To Reconsider Evans Decision
Sheffield United have been urged to reconsider its decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with the club. Sheffield Central MP Paul Bloomfield said if the club proceeded it would send "a disturbing message to young people and victims of sexual violence".
26 September 2007
CPS Receives File On Genette Tate Case
A file on the murder of Devon teenager Genette Tate in 1978 has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service, Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed. Devon and Cornwall Police said that the file had been submitted following an interview with a man in 2005.
CPS Receives File On Genette Tate Case
A file on the murder of Devon teenager Genette Tate in 1978 has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service, Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed. Devon and Cornwall Police said that the file had been submitted following an interview with a man in 2005.
19 November 2009
Multiple Robber Jailed
A criminal who evaded police after committing a series of armed robberies has been jailed for nine years. Grant Findlay, aged 23, of Marvels Lane, Bromley, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday November 17, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob between April 1 and May 17 2008 and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.
Multiple Robber Jailed
A criminal who evaded police after committing a series of armed robberies has been jailed for nine years. Grant Findlay, aged 23, of Marvels Lane, Bromley, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday November 17, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob between April 1 and May 17 2008 and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.
18 April 2007
Suspended sentence for shoe fetishist
A man with a footwear fetish who robbed women of their shoes has been given a suspended sentence. Omar Abd-el-Gowd, 26, of Honor Oak Park, south east London, had pleaded guilty to eight robberies between December 2005 and November 2006. He was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years.
Suspended sentence for shoe fetishist
A man with a footwear fetish who robbed women of their shoes has been given a suspended sentence. Omar Abd-el-Gowd, 26, of Honor Oak Park, south east London, had pleaded guilty to eight robberies between December 2005 and November 2006. He was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
