…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Four members of a criminal gang responsible for a series of ram raids, totaling £4.5 million in losses, have been sentenced to jail.
The gang, comprised of William Connors, Darren Eastaugh, Anthony Rodwell, and Sebastian Gnyp, utilized stolen luxury vehicles to crash into commercial properties, where they swiftly stole cash, jewelry, and other valuables before fleeing the scene.
CCTV Captures Shocking Ram Raid Incidents
CCTV footage captured the brazen moments when Land Rovers and Range Rovers were recklessly reversed into the fronts of shops, allowing the perpetrators to enter on foot and loot the premises.
The incidents occurred at various locations in north and west London, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire between November 2021 and August 2022.
Richard E Grant’s Car Used in Tesco Express Ram Raid
During the crime spree, actor Richard E Grant’s car was stolen and used to carry out a ram raid on a Tesco Express store in Hanworth, west London.
Grant, who was in quarantine at the time, shared the news on Twitter, adding a touch of humor to the situation.
Guilty Pleas and Arrests
At Isleworth Crown Court, the four defendants admitted involvement in a total of 14 burglaries, 33 thefts, three attempted burglaries, and an attempted theft.
Three of the men were apprehended by Met Police officers during a cash box raid at an Esso petrol station and Tesco Express outlet in Reading.
The fourth member was arrested the following month as detectives gathered evidence.
Significant Losses and Jail Sentences
The thefts and resulting damages caused by the gang amounted to an estimated value of over £1.2 million, with vehicle and property damage reaching £1.8 million.
Business owners who had to close for repairs reported losses of nearly £1.5 million.
In the sentencing, Connors and Eastaugh received jail terms of six years and six months each, Rodwell was sentenced to five years and ten months, and Gnyp received a three-year jail term.
Ruthlessness and Justice Served
Detective Constable Pippa Bregazzi, from the Met’s Flying Squad, highlighted the callousness displayed by the gang as they used cars as battering rams to gain access to cash registers and ATMs.
Bregazzi expressed satisfaction that the criminals were brought to justice, emphasizing their lack of concern for the victims and the necessity of stopping their continued targeting of vehicle owners and shops across the southern region of England.