Four men jailed for 70 years for armed robberies

1 October 2019, 21:16

A gang of four men that went on a 12-month crime spree, stealing more than £100,000 in cash and alcohol and tobacco worth £15,000 from the stores has been jailed for more than 70 years.

The organised crime network carried out multiple armed robberies across London and the south of England over the course of a year.

The group was involved in 22 armed robberies between January and December 2018, during which they targeted Co-Operative and One Stop stores.

The men would use knives and guns to threaten staff before tying them up and stealing large quantities of cash, tobacco and alcohol.

The gang carried also carried out raids in Bristol, Bicester, Rugby, Towcester and Leighton Buzzard.

The men were arrested when officers searched the gang's silver Vauxhall and identified a black handgun, recovered from the rear offside footwell, a balaclava worn by Wilson, a black rucksack and a tool knife.

Investigating officer Detective Constable William Man said: “These prolific gang members terrified shop workers across the country in order to steal cash.

“They are dangerous individuals who threatened victims with knives and guns throughout their brazen crime spree."

Shane Wilson, 40, pleaded guilty on March 21 to 24 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment.

Clleon Smith, 32, pleaded guilty on March 15 to 11 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and was jailed for 15 years and ten months.

45-year-old Joel Rene Derriviere pleaded guilty on 1 April to ten counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 16 years behind bars.

Samuel Kenneth Bernard, 56, was found guilty of six counts of conspiracy to commit robbery following a three-week long trial and jailed for 18 years.