Halifax jewellers raid gang jailed for 60 years

The group, who robbed a jewellery shop in Tunbridge Wells, also carried out reconnaissance on targets in York, Ilkley, Stratford-upon-Avon, Truro, Bath and Wolverhampton.

Ten members of the gang have been jailed for a total of 60 years for conspiracy to rob jewellers between February and August last year.

According to the Metropolitan Police in London, the gang were stopped by the force’s Flying Squad and West Yorkshire Police as they prepared to rob Lister Horsfall in Halifax.

The group had been observed ‘casing’ the shop in the days prior to their arrest, using a house in Morley as a base.

Police arrested six members of the gang as they prepared for the raid in the back of a white Transit van parked in a car park in South End, Elland.

They found two mopeds, three axes, four sledgehammers, a machete and motorcycle helmets inside the van.

Two other vehicles police had been watching - a Honda CRV and a Kia Sportage - were also parked up at the venue; both were found to contain items including false number plates, motorcycle helmets and changes of clothes.

An iPad recovered from the Kia Sportage was found to contain images of Lister Horsfall and maps of Halifax.

They were sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Craig Bari, 29, of Hitcham Road, Waltham Forest, London, and John Smith, 25, of Stavely Close, Islington, London, pleaded not guilty but were jailed for eight years after being found guilty of conspiracy to rob following a trial.

Eight other men pleaded guilty to charges in October.

Lee Jackson, 28, of Hollins House, Tufnell Park Road, London, was jailed for 12 years; Grant McCarroll, 22, of Dickson House, Drummond Way, London, was jailed for eight years; David Warren, 29, of no fixed abode, was jailed for six years and eight months; Eugene Sheehan, 53, of Southgate Road, London, was jailed for six years and eight months; Karim Mouzoun, 25, of Coombe House, Dalmeny Road, London, was jailed for six years and eight months.; Dane Perren, 31, of St Aubins Court, Debeauvoir Estate, London, was jailed for six years and four months; Jamie Martin, 30, of Bowman House, Nuttall Street, London, was jailed for six years; Jamie Freed, 44, of Southgate Road, London, was jailed for five years and four months.