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Gang jailed for luxury car thefts Gang jailed over stolen car sales
(about 1 hour later)
An international gang that made £4.5m by selling luxury cars that were stolen in violent attacks has been sentenced. Members of an international gang who made £4.5m selling luxury cars stolen in violent attacks have been sentenced.
Gang members in London stole more than 190 cars, including Porsches and Ferraris, some at gunpoint. Gang members in London stole more than 190 cars, some at gunpoint others during burglaries.
They were often stolen to order and sold with new parts and paperwork from cars written off in Europe. Vehicles including Ferraris and Porches were often stolen to order then sold with parts and paperwork from cars written off in Europe.
Ten London gang members, some of whom were jailed at Southwark Crown Court, had help from associates in Belgium who sent the write-offs to the UK. Ten London gang members had help from associates in Belgium, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Seven members of the Belgium side of the gang have already been sentenced. Seven members of the Belgian side of the gang, who dealt with write-offs, have already been sentenced.
'Distress and loss''Distress and loss'
Speaking at Southwark on Friday, Judge John Price said: "It was a very substantial conspiracy, not all of the conspirators are in the dock. Judge John Price said: "It was a very substantial conspiracy - not all of the conspirators are in the dock.
"But they [the police] destroyed an enormous organisation that was causing distress and financial loss to innocent people.""But they [the police] destroyed an enormous organisation that was causing distress and financial loss to innocent people."
Although some of the cars were stolen in violent car-jackings, most of them were taken in burglaries. The masterminds were all given jail terms. Although some of the cars were stolen in violent car-jackings with guns of knives being used to threaten drivers, most cars were taken in burglaries.
'Ruthless' network
Omar Abbas, 36, of New Cross, south-east London, was the mechanic who changed the identity of the cars and was jailed for five years.Omar Abbas, 36, of New Cross, south-east London, was the mechanic who changed the identity of the cars and was jailed for five years.
Anthony Holt, 41, a Tube driver, of Sidcup, Kent, was the most prolific author of false documents to the DVLA and was given a four-year prison term.Anthony Holt, 41, a Tube driver, of Sidcup, Kent, was the most prolific author of false documents to the DVLA and was given a four-year prison term.
The third key member of the gang Robert Taylor, 36, of Peckham, south east London, was jailed for two and a half years after he was linked to the thefts and sale of the cars.The third key member of the gang Robert Taylor, 36, of Peckham, south east London, was jailed for two and a half years after he was linked to the thefts and sale of the cars.
During the trial the court heard that Holt forged documents for at least 136 cars and submitted them to DVLA.
He also involved his girlfriend, Emma Rayfield, 32, a trainee police officer of Sidcup, Kent.
She admitted three counts of forgery and was given 75 hours of community service.
Others jailed Michael Kingsley, 40, of Brockley, south east London - 15 months jailJason Okoh, 32, of South Norwood, south London - one year jailMark Danlardy, 32, of East Dulwich, south east London - 18 months jailTerrance Harding, 31, of Colliers Wood, south west London - nine months jail
Robert Taylor, 36, of Peckham, south-east London, was linked to the theft and sale of cars worth more than £300,000 and also recruited DVLA official David Adams, who worked in Sidcup, Kent.
Adams, 31, who admitted corruption is now a security guard in Bexleyheath, south-east London, was given 200 hours community service.
Det Ch Insp Stuart Dark, head of the Met's stolen vehicle unit, said: "This was a particularly ruthless organised criminal network.
"The upper echelon of the network directed others to engage in excessive violence through robberies or burglaries with no regard for the trauma and anguish caused to their victims."
Mathew Wilson, 52, of Orpington, south London, was handed a 12 month suspended prison sentence last month.