An audacious gang of five men who masterminded a £1.2million conspiracy to burgle homes and blow up cash machines were today starting more than 50 years in jail.
During a crime spree across Hampshire, Dorset and Surrey, the gang – comprising ringleader David Hughes and his friends Cameron Chivers, Colin Golding, Adam Jones and Jesse Matthews – stole high-powered cars, money, jewellery, motorbikes, bicycles and even a one-year-old French Bulldog.
Winchester Crown Court heard that the criminals had also put people’s lives at risk by attempting to blow up 14 cash machines.
Although they were only successful in obtaining money from three machines, they caused a total of £255,938 in damages and losses during the raids.
During a crime spree across Hampshire, Dorset and Surrey, the gang – comprising ringleader David Hughes (above) and his friends Cameron Chivers, Colin Golding, Adam Jones and Jesse Matthews – stole high-powered cars, money, jewellery, motorbikes, bicycles and even a one-year-old French Bulldog
Adam Jones (left), 31, of Fareham, Hampshire, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion, two counts of conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to burgle. He was jailed for 13 and a half years. Jesse Matthews (right), 21, of Bordon, Hampshire, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion and conspiracy to steal. He was jailed for six years and eight months
Colin Golding (left), 26, of Farnborough, Hampshire, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion, conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to burgle. He was jailed for nine years. Cameron Chivers (right), 24, of Southampton, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion, two counts of conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to burgle. He was jailed for eight years and four months
Prosecutors said that during one attack, at a Tesco Express (above) in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, when the cash machine failed to explode, the gang used a stolen Land Rover Defender to try to ram the ATM, which caused structural damage to the building
A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary, who led the investigation, said: ‘During one of the ATM explosions, a family was asleep in the flat above where the fire was started, while another led to the evacuation of a student halls of residence in Southampton.
‘Winchester Crown Court heard the gang would meticulously plan the attacks on cash machines, stealing cars in the lead-up to a job to use as getaway vehicles with any potential spoils.
‘When carrying out the attacks on the ATMs, they would break open the machine, before pumping gas in using a hose and then igniting it in the hope of causing a violent explosion to gain access to the money held inside.
‘In the majority of instances, the men fled the scene empty-handed, with no explosion having occurred. However, the fires caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.’
One of the gang’s targets was a Stop ‘n’ Shop (above) in Sholing, Southampton, on August 14, 2019
Prosecutors said that during one attack, at a Tesco Express in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, when the cash machine failed to explode, the gang used a stolen Land Rover Defender to try to ram the ATM, which caused structural damage to the building.
The court heard that the men were finally caught after a series of dawn raids involving 150 police officers.
The offences took place between June 2019 and January 2020.
Winchester Crown Court heard that the criminals had also put people’s lives at risk by attempting to blow up 14 cash machines, including the Santander branch pictured
Hughes, 31, of Hook, Hampshire, admitted to counts of conspiring to steal, conspiring to burgle and conspiring to cause an explosion. He was jailed for 17 years.
Chivers, 24, of Southampton, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion, two counts of conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to burgle. He was jailed for eight years and four months.
Golding, 26, of Farnborough, Hampshire, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion, conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to burgle. He was jailed for nine years.
Jones, 31, of Fareham, Hampshire, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion, two counts of conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to burgle.
Jones also admitted to failing to disclose a key contrary to Section 49 of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 – namely, failing to provide a PIN for a mobile phone.
He was jailed for 13 and a half years.
Matthews, 21, of Bordon, Hampshire, admitted to conspiracy to cause an explosion and conspiracy to steal.
He was jailed for six years and eight months.
Judge Angela Morris ruled that Hughes, Jones, Chivers and Golding must serve at least two-thirds of their sentence in prison, while Matthews will only have to serve half of his.
Earlier, the court heard that the conspiracy to steal charges related to three burglaries where high-powered vehicles were stolen to be used as getaway cars after the cash machine attacks.
Prosecutors said that the conspiracy to burgle charges related to 31 burglaries during which the total value of goods stolen and the damage caused was £375,000.
During these incidents, the gang targeted homes, commercial premises and outbuildings, like garages and sheds.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Steve Court said: ‘These five men gave no thought for the residents of the homes they were burgling or the danger they were putting people in when exploding ATMs’ (including the one above)
Sentencing the men today, Judge Morris said: ‘None of you gave a moment’s thought to the danger you put those residents in or for the trauma they would suffer.
‘This kind of offending involves the worst kind of criminality, motivated by unadulterated greed. This was only stopped by the intervention of the police.’
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Steve Court said: ‘These five men gave no thought for the residents of the homes they were burgling or the danger they were putting people in when exploding ATMs.
‘Their only thought was to feed their own greed, no matter the cost, both monetary and emotionally, to the hard-working business owners whose properties they damaged, to the residents of the addresses they burgled, and to the family who thought they had lost their beloved pet.
‘As an investigation team, we have dedicated many hours to tracking down the gang and ensuring we can prove their involvement.
‘They thought they were above the law, that they could steal with impunity, but let this serve as a warning. We will catch you.’
