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Biker murder gang members jailed | Biker murder gang members jailed |
(20 minutes later) | |
Seven members of a motorcycle gang convicted of murdering a Hells Angel on the M40 have been jailed for life. | Seven members of a motorcycle gang convicted of murdering a Hells Angel on the M40 have been jailed for life. |
Their victim, 35-year-old mechanic Gerry Tobin, was shot in a "ruthlessly planned ambush" in August last year. | Their victim, 35-year-old mechanic Gerry Tobin, was shot in a "ruthlessly planned ambush" in August last year. |
He was returning from the Bulldog Bash biker festival to London when he was shot by members of a rival gang. | He was returning from the Bulldog Bash biker festival to London when he was shot by members of a rival gang. |
The judge at Birmingham Crown Court told the men they would each serve minimum terms of between 25 and 30 years for the "appalling murder". | |
Mr Justice Treacy told the defendants, who are all members of the Outlaws: "A totally innocent man was executed with a firearm in broad daylight on a busy motorway for no reason other than that he belonged to a different motorcycle club than yours." | |
'Utter pointlessness' | |
The court heard although Sean Creighton and Simon Turner fired the shots from a Rover car, the other defendants played a part in the "cold-blooded, premeditated, almost military plan". | |
Creighton, 44, from Coventry, described as president of the south Warwickshire Outlaws, will serve a minimum of 28 years and six months after pleading guilty to murder and firearms offences. | |
Gerry Tobin was a decent man, the judge said | |
Simon Turner, 41, from Nuneaton, was said to be the gang's sergeant-at-arms, and was given a minimum term of 30 years for murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. | Simon Turner, 41, from Nuneaton, was said to be the gang's sergeant-at-arms, and was given a minimum term of 30 years for murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. |
Malcolm Bull, 53, of Milton Keynes, will serve 25 years and Dean Taylor, 47, of Coventry, will serve 30 years. | Malcolm Bull, 53, of Milton Keynes, will serve 25 years and Dean Taylor, 47, of Coventry, will serve 30 years. |
Both were convicted of murder and a firearms offence in the seven-week trial. | |
Karl Garside, 45, Dane Garside, 42, and Ian Cameron, 46, all of Coventry, were also found guilty of murdering Mr Tobin. | Karl Garside, 45, Dane Garside, 42, and Ian Cameron, 46, all of Coventry, were also found guilty of murdering Mr Tobin. |
Karl Garside was given a minimum term of 26 years, Dane Garside 27 years, and Cameron was told he must serve at least 25 years in jail. | |
Mr Tobin was described in court as a "fully-patched", or fully-initiated, member of the Hells Angels. | |
He had been riding to his home in Mottingham, south-east London when he was hit by a bullet which lodged in his skull. | |
Mr Justice Treacy added: "Gerry Tobin was a decent man of good character. He was a total stranger to you. | |
"The utter pointlessness of what you did makes his murder more shocking." |