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| 'Ruthless' gang jailed for south England ram-raid spree | 'Ruthless' gang jailed for south England ram-raid spree |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Footage shows a ram-raid on a Tesco Express shortly before police arrive to arrest the gang | Footage shows a ram-raid on a Tesco Express shortly before police arrive to arrest the gang |
| Footage shows a ram-raid on a Tesco Express shortly before police arrive to arrest the gang | Footage shows a ram-raid on a Tesco Express shortly before police arrive to arrest the gang |
| Four men have been jailed following a series of ram-raids involving thefts of more than £1.2m. | Four men have been jailed following a series of ram-raids involving thefts of more than £1.2m. |
| William Connors, 29, Darren Easthaugh, 36, Anthony Rodwell, 33, and Sebastian Gnyp, 37, used SUVs to crash into shops throughout southern England. | William Connors, 29, Darren Easthaugh, 36, Anthony Rodwell, 33, and Sebastian Gnyp, 37, used SUVs to crash into shops throughout southern England. |
| They caused £1.8m of damage during the spree between November 2021 and August 2022. | They caused £1.8m of damage during the spree between November 2021 and August 2022. |
| The gang was arrested during a raid on an Esso garage in Caversham, Reading, following a surveillance operation. | The gang was arrested during a raid on an Esso garage in Caversham, Reading, following a surveillance operation. |
| The offences took place in north and west London, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire. | The offences took place in north and west London, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire. |
| Prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood told Isleworth Crown Court: "The MO was loud and very aggressive with vehicles being driven onto the forecourt before being reversed into the front of the building, sometimes through metal security grills. | Prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood told Isleworth Crown Court: "The MO was loud and very aggressive with vehicles being driven onto the forecourt before being reversed into the front of the building, sometimes through metal security grills. |
| "Once access was gained members of the gang go into shops seen with things like angle grinders, sledgehammers and sometimes with chains to try and drag out ATMs and safes. | "Once access was gained members of the gang go into shops seen with things like angle grinders, sledgehammers and sometimes with chains to try and drag out ATMs and safes. |
| "It's a very violent attack, it all happens very quickly, depending not on stealth but on speed." | "It's a very violent attack, it all happens very quickly, depending not on stealth but on speed." |
| Police swarmed on the men during a final raid on an Esso garage in Caversham, Reading following a surveillance operation | Police swarmed on the men during a final raid on an Esso garage in Caversham, Reading following a surveillance operation |
| Judge Simon Davis described the men as a "professional team of burglars and ram-raiders who chose to see if they could make a big buck". | Judge Simon Davis described the men as a "professional team of burglars and ram-raiders who chose to see if they could make a big buck". |
| He said they had caused "enormous destruction", causing businesses to close and staff to be laid off. | He said they had caused "enormous destruction", causing businesses to close and staff to be laid off. |
| Police said business owners suffered an estimated £1.5m in loss of earnings. | Police said business owners suffered an estimated £1.5m in loss of earnings. |
| Speaking outside court, Det Con Pippa Bregazzi, from the Met Police Flying Squad, said: "Footage of the burglaries demonstrates the ruthlessness in which the men used the cars as battering rams to access shops' tills and cash machines." | Speaking outside court, Det Con Pippa Bregazzi, from the Met Police Flying Squad, said: "Footage of the burglaries demonstrates the ruthlessness in which the men used the cars as battering rams to access shops' tills and cash machines." |
| Anthony Rodwell (top left), William Connors (top right), Darren Easthaugh (bottom left) and Sebastian Gnyp (bottom right) were jailed for a total of 53 offences | |
| The men were sentenced to a total of 53 offences, including burglary and theft. | The men were sentenced to a total of 53 offences, including burglary and theft. |
| Connors, of Exmouth Road, Hayes, and Eastaugh, of Bedfont Close, Feltham, were jailed for six years and six months. | Connors, of Exmouth Road, Hayes, and Eastaugh, of Bedfont Close, Feltham, were jailed for six years and six months. |
| Rodwell, of Laurel Gardens, Ashford, Surrey, who served as the getaway driver, was given five years and 10 months, and Gnyp, of Allenby Road, Ealing, three years. | Rodwell, of Laurel Gardens, Ashford, Surrey, who served as the getaway driver, was given five years and 10 months, and Gnyp, of Allenby Road, Ealing, three years. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Ashford | Ashford |
| Reading | Reading |
| London | London |
| Ealing | Ealing |
| Hayes | Hayes |
| Feltham | Feltham |