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'Ikea bag' store robbers jailed | 'Ikea bag' store robbers jailed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A gang of armed robbers, including a musician who recorded with Massive Attack, has been jailed. | A gang of armed robbers, including a musician who recorded with Massive Attack, has been jailed. |
The men armed themselves with metal bars and hammers as they targeted 13 convenience stores across Bristol. | The men armed themselves with metal bars and hammers as they targeted 13 convenience stores across Bristol. |
Detectives dubbed them the "Ikea bag" robberies as the gang usually used a blue bag from the furniture store to carry their haul. | Detectives dubbed them the "Ikea bag" robberies as the gang usually used a blue bag from the furniture store to carry their haul. |
Vocalist Claude Williams and five other men had been convicted of conspiracy to rob at Bristol Crown Court. | Vocalist Claude Williams and five other men had been convicted of conspiracy to rob at Bristol Crown Court. |
They stole £37,406 worth of cigarettes and tobacco, and £4,667 in cash between August 2008 and January 2009. | They stole £37,406 worth of cigarettes and tobacco, and £4,667 in cash between August 2008 and January 2009. |
The men were caught by police as they prepared for a fourteenth robbery on 14 January last year. | The men were caught by police as they prepared for a fourteenth robbery on 14 January last year. |
Williams, 48, of Windmill Hill, was jailed for three years for his role in the conspiracy. | Williams, 48, of Windmill Hill, was jailed for three years for his role in the conspiracy. |
Rapping under the name Willy Wee, he was a member of the Wild Bunch, a hip-hop collective that later evolved into Massive Attack. | Rapping under the name Willy Wee, he was a member of the Wild Bunch, a hip-hop collective that later evolved into Massive Attack. |
Williams appeared on the first Massive Attack album. | Williams appeared on the first Massive Attack album. |
The six terrorised small shops in Bristol for six months | |
Peter Miles, 41, of Kingswood, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years, David Miles, 23, of Ashley Down, for five-and-a-half years, Ryan Douglas, 36, of Fishponds, for seven years and nine months, William Defty, 36, of Hengrove, for five-and-a-half years, and Christopher Morgan, 40, of Lawrence Hill, for five years and four months. | |
Detective Inspector Jon Reilly, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The sentences passed today bring an end to what was a challenging investigation. | Detective Inspector Jon Reilly, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The sentences passed today bring an end to what was a challenging investigation. |
"This gang of offenders was both organised and dangerous and preyed upon convenience stores that were open late into the evening." | "This gang of offenders was both organised and dangerous and preyed upon convenience stores that were open late into the evening." |
"By using a high level of violence, with metal bars and hammers, they overcame staff and stole both cash and cigarettes to a total value of over £40,000." | "By using a high level of violence, with metal bars and hammers, they overcame staff and stole both cash and cigarettes to a total value of over £40,000." |