Gang of would-be robbers jailed for more than 40 years

Date published: 09 October 2009

A gang who plotted to carry out a series of robberies across the North West have today (Friday 9 October) been jailed for a total of more than 40 years at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square.

The nine men and one woman were charged as part of Operation Kenya, an investigation by officers from Greater Manchester Police's Force Robbery Unit.

Daniel Jones, 26, of Bury was, in his absence, convicted of conspiracy to rob. He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

Christopher Decieco, 29, of Charlestown, Salford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Michael Anthony Gabriel, 23, of Chorlton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four years.

Stephen Lee Cleator, 31, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four years and 10 months.

Dean Christopher Philips, 31, of Benchill pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.

Steven Whitehead, 23, of Lower Broughton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.

Steven Burton, 25, of Pendleton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.

Wayne Sidney Jones, 31, of Pendleton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.

James Firth, 23, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years.

Katie Murray, 21, of Salford, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to eight months in prison at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 6 May.

The conspiracy to rob charge relates to the following incidents between 2 September and 21 October 2008:

- Recognisance activity on 2/9/08 around a cash centre in Salford.
- The locating of two stolen vehicles on 5/9/08.
- Attempted robbery of a cash van at Tescos in Rochdale on 6/9/08.
- A recognisance of George Banks Jewellers in Bowness on 9/9/08.
- Further recognisance of George Banks jewellers between 5/10/08 and 7/10/08.
- Recognisance of Lloyds TSB at Moston by vehicle associated to Decieco plus attack on plain police vehicle between 9/10/09 and 10/10/08.
- Activity moving stolen cars from Heywood to Nantwich and arrest of several suspects by armed police between 17/10/08 and 21/10/08

Detective Inspector Tony Heslop, from the Force Robbery Unit, said: "These men have plotted to carry out a number of robberies across the north west and have proven to be a well organised gang, led by Decieco.

"It is testament to the hard work carried out by my officers that we were able to intercept and charge them before they could carry out a robbery, such was the strength of evidence against them.

"All 10 defendants, whatever part they played, have been complicit in conspiring to carry out armed robberies.

"Even Decieco's girlfriend, who thought she could lie to police, was jailed for eight months.

"I hope today's sentencing acts as a strong deterrent to other crime groups that we will utilise all the tools at our disposal to track you down and bring you to justice."

Decieco was identified and made the subject of a covert operation by the force robbery unit.

On 6 September 2008 he met Gabriel, Philips and Cleator. The men drove to Rochdale where Decieco parked a stolen Hyundai and all four drove to Tesco in Whitefield.

They got into a Volkswagen Passat and attempted to follow a security van that had just left Tesco but the driver lost sight of the van.

On 9 September 2008, Decieco met Jones and Smith on Hamilton Street, Bury. The three then drove to Bowness, Cumbria and were seen checking out George Banks Jewellers on Ash Street, walking around the back and front of the building.

The trio spent less than ten minutes in the area before returning to Manchester.

On 5 October 2008 Decieco is caught on CCTV looking through the window of the same jewellers in Bowness when it is shut. Telephonic evidence shows Decieco's phone being used in Bowness on 6 and 7 October 2008.

On 9 October 2008 a car belonging to Decieco (a Mitsubishi) was parked on Arran Street opposite a branch of Lloyds TSB.

At 8.30am the following day police were called by staff concerned about a car that was spotted parked opposite the bank.

Officers attended and found four men all with balaclavas in a Nissan Primera. One of the men got out and attacked the police car with a sledgehammer before the gang drove off.

At 7.10am on Tuesday 21 October 2008, Decieco left home and picked up Whitehead, Firth, Burton and Wayne Jones before driving to Nantwich where they got into a stolen Saab 93 that had been parked up days earlier and drove towards the town centre.

A decision was made to intercept the car and armed officers attempted to stop the car.

Firth rammed a number of cars, causing one to hit a firearms officer, breaking his foot.

He then mounted the pavement and drove at another officer before driving to Nantwich Football Club where all five got out.

The gang ran across an adjacent field, stripping themselves as they fled. After a short chase all five were arrested.

A dog handler from Cheshire assisted in the recovery of a number of items from the field including a waterproof coat, balaclavas, gloves, holdalls and a knife. A sledgehammer was found in the Saab.