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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Blow dealt to city's notorious gangs | Blow dealt to city's notorious gangs |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Judith Moritz BBC News | By Judith Moritz BBC News |
| Colin Joyce (left) and Lee Amos ran South Manchester's Gooch Gang | |
| Eleven men have been found guilty of 26 charges - ranging from murder to drug dealing - after a court trial exposed the workings of one of Britain's most notorious gangs. | Eleven men have been found guilty of 26 charges - ranging from murder to drug dealing - after a court trial exposed the workings of one of Britain's most notorious gangs. |
| The Gooch Gang, which operates in south Manchester, has been locked in a feud with the equally infamous Doddington Gang for more than 20 years. | The Gooch Gang, which operates in south Manchester, has been locked in a feud with the equally infamous Doddington Gang for more than 20 years. |
| The police have repeatedly come up against a wall of silence whilst trying to tackle the gangs. | The police have repeatedly come up against a wall of silence whilst trying to tackle the gangs. |
| While investigating the murder of schoolboy Jesse James, who was shot in Moss Side in September 2006, they appealed without success for gang members to come forward with information. | While investigating the murder of schoolboy Jesse James, who was shot in Moss Side in September 2006, they appealed without success for gang members to come forward with information. |
| But the silence has finally been broken. Following the murders of two men in the summer of 2007, six gang associates came forward - three were given immunity from prosecution in return for their evidence. | But the silence has finally been broken. Following the murders of two men in the summer of 2007, six gang associates came forward - three were given immunity from prosecution in return for their evidence. |
| They were all given the status of protected witnesses and their testimony has been crucial in securing these new convictions. | They were all given the status of protected witnesses and their testimony has been crucial in securing these new convictions. |
| Sprayed bullets | Sprayed bullets |
| It has led to what has been described as the most significant breakthrough in combating Manchester's gangs within the last decade. | It has led to what has been described as the most significant breakthrough in combating Manchester's gangs within the last decade. |
| The net started to close in after the murders of Ucal Chin and Tyrone Gilbert two years ago. | The net started to close in after the murders of Ucal Chin and Tyrone Gilbert two years ago. |
| The men had connections with the Longsight Crew, a group affiliated to the Doddington Gang. | The men had connections with the Longsight Crew, a group affiliated to the Doddington Gang. |
| Ucal Chin was killed in a drive-by shooting in the Longsight area of Manchester on 15 June 2007. | Ucal Chin was killed in a drive-by shooting in the Longsight area of Manchester on 15 June 2007. |
| Six weeks later a crowd of up to 100 people, including children, was gathered after the 24-year-old's funeral. | Six weeks later a crowd of up to 100 people, including children, was gathered after the 24-year-old's funeral. |
| They were at Chin's wake when gunmen drove up and opened fire, spraying bullets into the crowd. | They were at Chin's wake when gunmen drove up and opened fire, spraying bullets into the crowd. |
| Some ricocheted off the walls of houses and others struck parked cars. Two mourners were hit directly. Tyrone Gilbert, aged 23, was killed. His friend Michael Gordon was injured. | Some ricocheted off the walls of houses and others struck parked cars. Two mourners were hit directly. Tyrone Gilbert, aged 23, was killed. His friend Michael Gordon was injured. |
| Significant dent | Significant dent |
| Colin Joyce, 29, was found guilty of murdering both Ucal Chin and Tyrone Gilbert and attempting to kill Michael Gordon. | Colin Joyce, 29, was found guilty of murdering both Ucal Chin and Tyrone Gilbert and attempting to kill Michael Gordon. |
| Lee Amos, 33, was convicted of killing Chin and trying to murder Gordon. | Lee Amos, 33, was convicted of killing Chin and trying to murder Gordon. |
| Tyrone Gilbert (left) was killed at the wake of Ucal Chin | |
| Aeeron Campbell, 25, Narada Williams, 28, and his brother Ricardo Williams, 26, were convicted of murdering Tyrone Gilbert. They were also found guilty of trying to kill Gordon. | Aeeron Campbell, 25, Narada Williams, 28, and his brother Ricardo Williams, 26, were convicted of murdering Tyrone Gilbert. They were also found guilty of trying to kill Gordon. |
| Five other men connected with the defendants were convicted of various drugs and firearms charges. A sixth man pleaded guilty to similar charges. | Five other men connected with the defendants were convicted of various drugs and firearms charges. A sixth man pleaded guilty to similar charges. |
| All 11 men were members of the Gooch Gang. Although they now face jail, the police cannot claim to have taken the whole gang off the streets. | All 11 men were members of the Gooch Gang. Although they now face jail, the police cannot claim to have taken the whole gang off the streets. |
| Others are still operating under the Gooch banner, but the police say that they have made a significant dent in their ability to operate. | Others are still operating under the Gooch banner, but the police say that they have made a significant dent in their ability to operate. |
| The trial has given a rare glimpse into the structure of Manchester's gangs, and the way they function. | The trial has given a rare glimpse into the structure of Manchester's gangs, and the way they function. |
| The Gooch and Doddington gangs are the two main factions in south Manchester. They operate in areas including Moss Side and Longsight. | The Gooch and Doddington gangs are the two main factions in south Manchester. They operate in areas including Moss Side and Longsight. |
| But they are not the only gangs in the city. Other, less well-known groups - including the Longsight Crew, the Old Trafford Cripz and the Longsight Street Soldiers - are affiliated to Gooch and Doddington. | But they are not the only gangs in the city. Other, less well-known groups - including the Longsight Crew, the Old Trafford Cripz and the Longsight Street Soldiers - are affiliated to Gooch and Doddington. |
| None of the gangs have what can be described as "card-carrying" members, but those who belong to these groups are involved in a network, in which any connection - no matter how loose - counts as an affiliation. | None of the gangs have what can be described as "card-carrying" members, but those who belong to these groups are involved in a network, in which any connection - no matter how loose - counts as an affiliation. |
| Members are simply on one side, or the other. | Members are simply on one side, or the other. |
| Drugs trade | Drugs trade |
| The gangs operate on a tiered structure. The Gooch Gang has three levels. Of the defendants in this trial, Colin Joyce and Lee Amos were the main players, running the gang. | The gangs operate on a tiered structure. The Gooch Gang has three levels. Of the defendants in this trial, Colin Joyce and Lee Amos were the main players, running the gang. |
| Others worked under them, and were responsible for co-ordinating the supply and distribution of drugs. | Others worked under them, and were responsible for co-ordinating the supply and distribution of drugs. |
| Below them was a bottom tier of drug dealers, working on the streets of south Manchester, peddling heroin and cocaine as well as firearms. | Below them was a bottom tier of drug dealers, working on the streets of south Manchester, peddling heroin and cocaine as well as firearms. |
| Before these men were brought to trial, the gang was selling up to £2,000 worth of drugs a day, with heroin being dealt in wraps costing as little as £10 each. | Before these men were brought to trial, the gang was selling up to £2,000 worth of drugs a day, with heroin being dealt in wraps costing as little as £10 each. |
| The dealers at the lowest level were allowed to keep up to £100 per day for themselves, with the rest of the profit being sent back up the chain to fund the further purchase of drugs. | The dealers at the lowest level were allowed to keep up to £100 per day for themselves, with the rest of the profit being sent back up the chain to fund the further purchase of drugs. |
| The gang was making serious money, but police say that there is not much evidence of them living extravagantly as a result. | The gang was making serious money, but police say that there is not much evidence of them living extravagantly as a result. |
| Gun crime | Gun crime |
| Those involved are thought to have been more bothered about their status than financial reward. | Those involved are thought to have been more bothered about their status than financial reward. |
| The gang has been responsible for a significant proportion of gun crime in Manchester. In fact, since January this year, there has not been a fatal shooting in the city. | The gang has been responsible for a significant proportion of gun crime in Manchester. In fact, since January this year, there has not been a fatal shooting in the city. |
| Greater Manchester Police also say that there has been a 92% drop in gun crime in central Manchester since 2004, at which time both Joyce and Amos were in jail for possessing firearms. | Greater Manchester Police also say that there has been a 92% drop in gun crime in central Manchester since 2004, at which time both Joyce and Amos were in jail for possessing firearms. |
| Bringing these men to justice has been a huge task. More than 80,000 phone calls have been analysed. | Bringing these men to justice has been a huge task. More than 80,000 phone calls have been analysed. |
| The trial itself has been running since October. It has involved 22 barristers and a huge security presence at court. The cost will run into millions. | The trial itself has been running since October. It has involved 22 barristers and a huge security presence at court. The cost will run into millions. |
| But you will not find a police officer in Manchester who does not think it has been worth it. Quite simply, they say that with these men behind bars, Manchester is a much safer place. | But you will not find a police officer in Manchester who does not think it has been worth it. Quite simply, they say that with these men behind bars, Manchester is a much safer place. |