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| Long terms for fatal robbery gang | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Seven men who carried out a series of armed robberies in southern England, which ended when police shot dead two gang members, have been jailed. | Seven men who carried out a series of armed robberies in southern England, which ended when police shot dead two gang members, have been jailed. |
| Kingston Crown Court heard how the gang took about £500,000 by robbing security vans making deliveries to banks. | Kingston Crown Court heard how the gang took about £500,000 by robbing security vans making deliveries to banks. |
| Their 18-month campaign ended when the gang leaders were shot dead by armed officers outside a bank in Hampshire. | Their 18-month campaign ended when the gang leaders were shot dead by armed officers outside a bank in Hampshire. |
| Getaway driver Terence Wallace, 26, and fellow gang member Adrian Johnson, 28, got the longest sentences of 17 years. | Getaway driver Terence Wallace, 26, and fellow gang member Adrian Johnson, 28, got the longest sentences of 17 years. |
| Telephone records | Telephone records |
| The robberies took place at 18 locations in Oxford, Swindon, Bristol, Bath, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Reading, Ipswich and Gloucestershire between April 2006 and September 2007. | The robberies took place at 18 locations in Oxford, Swindon, Bristol, Bath, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Reading, Ipswich and Gloucestershire between April 2006 and September 2007. |
| The spree came to an end when police shot dead ringleader Mark Nunes, 35, and 36-year-old accomplice Andrew Markland during a foiled raid in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, in September 2007. | |
| Clockwise from top left Johnson, Wilkinson, Iniodu and Wallace | Clockwise from top left Johnson, Wilkinson, Iniodu and Wallace |
| Wallace, from Raynes Park, and Johnson, from Streatham Hill, both in London, had denied conspiracy to rob. | Wallace, from Raynes Park, and Johnson, from Streatham Hill, both in London, had denied conspiracy to rob. |
| Johnson was also convicted of a separate cashbox robbery committed last November after Nunes was shot dead. | Johnson was also convicted of a separate cashbox robbery committed last November after Nunes was shot dead. |
| When the sentence was handed down, the mother of Wallace's two children left the court in tears, swearing at the judge. | |
| Leroy Wilkinson, 29, from Streatham in London, who had also denied the charge, was jailed for 12 years. | Leroy Wilkinson, 29, from Streatham in London, who had also denied the charge, was jailed for 12 years. |
| Three men - Leroy Hall, 32, Leon McKenzie, 28, and Brian Henry, 32 - all from London - were given reduced sentences for pleading guilty to being part of the gang. | Three men - Leroy Hall, 32, Leon McKenzie, 28, and Brian Henry, 32 - all from London - were given reduced sentences for pleading guilty to being part of the gang. |
| Hall and McKenzie were given seven-year sentences and Henry was jailed for six-and-a-half years. | Hall and McKenzie were given seven-year sentences and Henry was jailed for six-and-a-half years. |
| Mark Nunes (l) and Andrew Markland were shot dead by police | |
| Victor Iniodu, 34, from Tooting, London, who had denied conspiracy to rob, received a five-year sentence. | Victor Iniodu, 34, from Tooting, London, who had denied conspiracy to rob, received a five-year sentence. |
| During the trial, the jury was told that mobile telephone records of the gang members placed them at the scene of a series of bank raids, exactly a week before the crimes. | During the trial, the jury was told that mobile telephone records of the gang members placed them at the scene of a series of bank raids, exactly a week before the crimes. |
| Their phones would then be switched off during the robberies. | Their phones would then be switched off during the robberies. |
| The prosecution also said the phone records showed defendants had all been in contact with Nunes, who was the recruiter for the gang. | The prosecution also said the phone records showed defendants had all been in contact with Nunes, who was the recruiter for the gang. |
| Judge Richard Southwell said the robberies were "highly organised and carefully planned". | Judge Richard Southwell said the robberies were "highly organised and carefully planned". |
| Most of the raids occurred outside the M25, as the guards delivered cashboxes to small banks. | Most of the raids occurred outside the M25, as the guards delivered cashboxes to small banks. |
| Afterwards, officers from the Metropolitan Police's Flying Sqaud said the sentences - which were more severe than they had expected - sent out a strong warning. | |
| Leroy Hall, Leon McKenzie and Brian Henry all pleaded guilty (L-R) | |
| Det Insp Terry Wilson, said: "The sentences send out a very clear message to those thinking of becoming involved in such criminal networks." | |
| One security guard, Colin Frewer, was targeted on two separate occasions, both at Colchester. | |
| The judge commended him for lashing out at the attackers during one raid, even though one was carrying a gun. A shot was fired, but no one was hurt. | |
| He was awarded him £750 from public funds in recognition of his "conspicuous piece of courage". | |
| Mr Frewer, 64, told the BBC that his patience "just snapped" and he went for it. | |
| "It gave me a good feeling to hear the judge praise me," he added. | |
| Another member of the public was given an award of £250 for "body-checking" one of the gang as they attempted to make a getaway. |