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| Southampton 'highly organised' eBay gang sentenced | Southampton 'highly organised' eBay gang sentenced |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A group of family members and friends have been jailed for running a "highly organised" criminal enterprise selling stolen goods on eBay. | A group of family members and friends have been jailed for running a "highly organised" criminal enterprise selling stolen goods on eBay. |
| The gang from Hampshire shoplifted from Homebase and B&Q stores in 13 counties. | The gang from Hampshire shoplifted from Homebase and B&Q stores in 13 counties. |
| They are believed to have made more than £250,000 selling items such as showers, bathroom fittings and vacuum cleaners online. | They are believed to have made more than £250,000 selling items such as showers, bathroom fittings and vacuum cleaners online. |
| Six men and four women were jailed for between six months and five years. Two others avoided jail. | Six men and four women were jailed for between six months and five years. Two others avoided jail. |
| One was given a suspended sentence and another was given a community order. | One was given a suspended sentence and another was given a community order. |
| 'Postmistress general' | 'Postmistress general' |
| The orchestrator of the thefts George Mason, who was sentenced to five years in prison, was described by the Judge Peter Blair QC as "an arrogant, boastful, 31-year-old who appears to think he was untouchable". | The orchestrator of the thefts George Mason, who was sentenced to five years in prison, was described by the Judge Peter Blair QC as "an arrogant, boastful, 31-year-old who appears to think he was untouchable". |
| Mason, of Meggeson Avenue, Southampton, had been responsible for recruiting members of his family and friends to help run his criminal business, the court was told. | Mason, of Meggeson Avenue, Southampton, had been responsible for recruiting members of his family and friends to help run his criminal business, the court was told. |
| The court heard he had 14 previous convictions for theft. | |
| The judge said he had "had most of the available court sentences that exist" and added: "Those previous sentences have failed to deter you from a criminal lifestyle." | The judge said he had "had most of the available court sentences that exist" and added: "Those previous sentences have failed to deter you from a criminal lifestyle." |
| Mason's sister Yvonne Banaghan, 35, of Victoria Road, Southampton, was described as "the postmistress general" of the operation and had been responsible for packing and posting many of the stolen items out to eBay buyers. | Mason's sister Yvonne Banaghan, 35, of Victoria Road, Southampton, was described as "the postmistress general" of the operation and had been responsible for packing and posting many of the stolen items out to eBay buyers. |
| She received two-and-a-half years in prison. | She received two-and-a-half years in prison. |
| Mason's mother Caroline Kirkland, 55, of Violet Road, Southampton, and her neighbour Michelle Moore, 46, received six months and nine months respectively for storing the stolen goods and helping sell them from their homes. | Mason's mother Caroline Kirkland, 55, of Violet Road, Southampton, and her neighbour Michelle Moore, 46, received six months and nine months respectively for storing the stolen goods and helping sell them from their homes. |
| Six members of the gang were friends or neighbours. | Six members of the gang were friends or neighbours. |
| For much of the proceedings nine defendants sat in the seats normally reserved for the jury at Southampton Crown Court, because there was not enough room in the dock. | For much of the proceedings nine defendants sat in the seats normally reserved for the jury at Southampton Crown Court, because there was not enough room in the dock. |
| The other defendants and their sentences are: | The other defendants and their sentences are: |