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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Gang convicted of top car thefts | Gang convicted of top car thefts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A gang has been convicted of masterminding the UK's biggest ever stolen car racket. | A gang has been convicted of masterminding the UK's biggest ever stolen car racket. |
| High-value cars such as Porsches, Mercedes and BMWs, were shipped out of the UK after being stolen in thefts, burglaries, robberies and carjackings. | |
| The defendants from London, Essex, Kent and Bedfordshire were found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen goods. | The defendants from London, Essex, Kent and Bedfordshire were found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen goods. |
| The last of the gang, who shipped most of the cars to Africa, was sentenced on Friday at Luton Crown Court. | The last of the gang, who shipped most of the cars to Africa, was sentenced on Friday at Luton Crown Court. |
| The scam involved shipping the cars to Mombasa in Kenya where most would then be moved to Uganda. | The scam involved shipping the cars to Mombasa in Kenya where most would then be moved to Uganda. |
| Racket cracked | Racket cracked |
| Police recovered 92 cars worth £4m but suspect at least 200 were sent abroad between May 2005 and April 2006. | Police recovered 92 cars worth £4m but suspect at least 200 were sent abroad between May 2005 and April 2006. |
| The racket was cracked in a joint operation between three police forces, Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent. | The racket was cracked in a joint operation between three police forces, Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent. |
| Judge Richard Foster said the scale of the conspiracy was unprecedented and what could be proved was just the "tip of the iceberg". | Judge Richard Foster said the scale of the conspiracy was unprecedented and what could be proved was just the "tip of the iceberg". |
| The scale and sophistication of this operation cannot be overstated Judge Richard Foster | The scale and sophistication of this operation cannot be overstated Judge Richard Foster |
| The gang set up an elaborate system to load the cars in to containers and ship them out of the UK using false paperwork and disguising them as containers full of electrical goods. | The gang set up an elaborate system to load the cars in to containers and ship them out of the UK using false paperwork and disguising them as containers full of electrical goods. |
| Judge Foster told the gang: "The scale and sophistication of this operation cannot be overstated and a large profit has been made. | Judge Foster told the gang: "The scale and sophistication of this operation cannot be overstated and a large profit has been made. |
| "We can find no reported case that comes close to matching the magnitude of this case. | "We can find no reported case that comes close to matching the magnitude of this case. |
| "This was a sophisticated and professional conspiracy." | "This was a sophisticated and professional conspiracy." |
| The only woman in the gang worked for Mercedes UK in Redhill and used inside knowledge to supply the gang with paperwork and details for genuine Mercedes so the cars could be ringed and appear legitimate. | The only woman in the gang worked for Mercedes UK in Redhill and used inside knowledge to supply the gang with paperwork and details for genuine Mercedes so the cars could be ringed and appear legitimate. |
| Some of the gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen cars while others were convicted by a jury during two trials held earlier this year at Luton Crown Court. | Some of the gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen cars while others were convicted by a jury during two trials held earlier this year at Luton Crown Court. |
| Gang sentences | Gang sentences |
| Abdu Gatsinzi, 37, of Brynmaer Road, south west London, was jailed for eight years. | Abdu Gatsinzi, 37, of Brynmaer Road, south west London, was jailed for eight years. |
| Wycliffe Ssali, 31, of Harrowden Court, Luton, was jailed for eight years. | Wycliffe Ssali, 31, of Harrowden Court, Luton, was jailed for eight years. |
| Martin Clark, 46, of Antlers, Canvey Island, was jailed for seven years. | Martin Clark, 46, of Antlers, Canvey Island, was jailed for seven years. |
| Raymond Severn, 54, of Bramble Lane, Upminster, Essex, was jailed for six and a half years. | Raymond Severn, 54, of Bramble Lane, Upminster, Essex, was jailed for six and a half years. |
| Godfrey Esimu, 34, of Farleigh Road, Stoke Newington, in north London, was jailed for five years. | Godfrey Esimu, 34, of Farleigh Road, Stoke Newington, in north London, was jailed for five years. |
| Gary Lambourne, 25, Creswick Walk, Bromley, Kent, was jailed for seven years. | Gary Lambourne, 25, Creswick Walk, Bromley, Kent, was jailed for seven years. |
| Allen Kalisa, 30, of Brynmaer Road, south west London, was jailed for two years. | Allen Kalisa, 30, of Brynmaer Road, south west London, was jailed for two years. |
| Patrick Eseru, 42, of Farleigh Road, Stoke Newington, in north London, was jailed for 15 months. | Patrick Eseru, 42, of Farleigh Road, Stoke Newington, in north London, was jailed for 15 months. |
| Shafiq Kamuhanda, 35, of Grantham Road, east London, was jailed for three years. | Shafiq Kamuhanda, 35, of Grantham Road, east London, was jailed for three years. |
| Maqsood Ahmed, 36, of Springfield Drive, Ilford, received a 12 month sentence suspended for two years. | Maqsood Ahmed, 36, of Springfield Drive, Ilford, received a 12 month sentence suspended for two years. |
| Ton Leo, 35, of Tollgate Road, east London, received a 12 month sentence suspended for two years. | Ton Leo, 35, of Tollgate Road, east London, received a 12 month sentence suspended for two years. |
| Colin Walter, 23, of Portree Street, Bow, east London, was handed a 12 month community service order and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. | Colin Walter, 23, of Portree Street, Bow, east London, was handed a 12 month community service order and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. |