THE five ringleaders of a ruthless gang convicted of more than 15 ram-raids, including an incident in Chiddingfold, have been sentenced.
After an eight-week trial at Winchester Crown Court, which heard details of how the gang led police on dangerous high speed chases across three counties, four of the five have been jailed for up to 10 years.
The court was told that between August 1999 and July 2001 the gang masterminded more than 60 crimes, using stolen four-wheel-drive vehicles to reverse into convenience stores and garages, and on occasion a bank, before removing the cash machine and escaping at high speed.
The attack on Roberts Stores in Chiddingfold took place in March of last year, and caused substantial structural damage to both the shop and the residence above, in addition to the financial losses.
Among the gang members sentenced at Winchester on Friday were husband and wife, Danny Stevens (23) and Carmella Collins (25), who lived together with their two children at a caravan park near Reading.
Senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Bob Crampton, said: ÒThis was a team of very determined criminals whose activities caused mayhem and misery in the three force areas.
ÒThey had no hesitation in using extreme violence against police officers in order to evade capture and were a substantial public safety risk in the way they used high powered vehicles.Ó
During the trial, the Crown offered detailed evidence of how the gang kept the stolen vehicles hidden before the raids.
The court also heard how each gang member wore a balaclava to avoid identification.
Danny Stevens had already admitted committing raids and burglaries from 1999 to 2001 and received a total of eight-and-a-half years, while his wife got a suspended sentence of 18 months.
Christopher Mintern (37), of Camberley, and Joseph Smith (20), of Yateley, received 10 years, and Richard King (23), of Yateley, who had already admitted conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal, received a total prison sentence of three-and-a-half years.