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| Bogus Gumtree car salesman jailed | Bogus Gumtree car salesman jailed |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Two men who placed fake car adverts on the Gumtree website and then robbed people who responded have been jailed. | Two men who placed fake car adverts on the Gumtree website and then robbed people who responded have been jailed. |
| Richard McCrorie, 25, and Alexander Gould, 22, arranged to meet potential buyers in quiet, residential locations in affluent areas of Surrey. | Richard McCrorie, 25, and Alexander Gould, 22, arranged to meet potential buyers in quiet, residential locations in affluent areas of Surrey. |
| But once a buyer arrived the men used guns and metal bars to force their victim into handing over cash. | But once a buyer arrived the men used guns and metal bars to force their victim into handing over cash. |
| McCrorie, of West Molesey, was given seven years and Gould, from Manchester, was jailed for six years. | |
| They were prepared to use extreme levels of violence to achieve their aims and their crimes have had a terrifying and lasting effect on their victims Detective Inspector Pete Fulton | They were prepared to use extreme levels of violence to achieve their aims and their crimes have had a terrifying and lasting effect on their victims Detective Inspector Pete Fulton |
| Before meeting their victims the two men would stipulate payments would have to be made in cash, a Surrey Police spokesman said. | Before meeting their victims the two men would stipulate payments would have to be made in cash, a Surrey Police spokesman said. |
| Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Pete Fulton said: "McCrorie and Gould were part of a well-planned and elaborate conspiracy to lure people they believed would be carrying a substantial amount of cash to quiet residential areas so they could rob them. | Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Pete Fulton said: "McCrorie and Gould were part of a well-planned and elaborate conspiracy to lure people they believed would be carrying a substantial amount of cash to quiet residential areas so they could rob them. |
| "They were prepared to use extreme levels of violence to achieve their aims and their crimes have had a terrifying and lasting effect on their victims." | "They were prepared to use extreme levels of violence to achieve their aims and their crimes have had a terrifying and lasting effect on their victims." |
| Their first victim was told go to a house in Woking and phone a man called "James" when he arrived. | Their first victim was told go to a house in Woking and phone a man called "James" when he arrived. |
| But as he waited after making the call, two men wearing balaclavas, one carrying a black pistol, ran from behind a hedge and dragged him from the driver's seat. | But as he waited after making the call, two men wearing balaclavas, one carrying a black pistol, ran from behind a hedge and dragged him from the driver's seat. |
| Subdued by Tasers | Subdued by Tasers |
| His attackers hit him over the head and demanded he give them the money or they would kill him. He gave them £1,100 in cash and the two men fled. | His attackers hit him over the head and demanded he give them the money or they would kill him. He gave them £1,100 in cash and the two men fled. |
| He was left with blood pouring from his head and needed stitches. | He was left with blood pouring from his head and needed stitches. |
| The pair carried out a series of similar attacks until they were caught by undercover officers posing as buyers. | The pair carried out a series of similar attacks until they were caught by undercover officers posing as buyers. |
| McCrorie and Gould turned up at the meeting armed with a knife and a gun, to launch their attack on what they believed to be the couple's white van. | McCrorie and Gould turned up at the meeting armed with a knife and a gun, to launch their attack on what they believed to be the couple's white van. |
| Instead, the van was full of police officers who used Tasers to subdue and arrest the pair. | Instead, the van was full of police officers who used Tasers to subdue and arrest the pair. |
| At an earlier court hearing, McCrorie pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery and three counts of possession of an imitation firearm. | At an earlier court hearing, McCrorie pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery and three counts of possession of an imitation firearm. |
| Gould pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery and one count of possession of an imitation firearm. | Gould pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery and one count of possession of an imitation firearm. |
| Last month a man was robbed of £5,000 and needed open heart surgery after being stabbed in Barking, east London, by a man who had advertised a car on Gumtree. | Last month a man was robbed of £5,000 and needed open heart surgery after being stabbed in Barking, east London, by a man who had advertised a car on Gumtree. |
| A Gumtree spokeswoman said at the time: "We strongly recommend that users meet in daylight, in a public place and take a friend." | A Gumtree spokeswoman said at the time: "We strongly recommend that users meet in daylight, in a public place and take a friend." |