Hole in the roof gang’s £1.3m spree
AGANG who smashed their way in through the roof of a Southport bank in a cocky daytime raid have been jailed for a total of 83 years.
The sledgehammer-wielding thieves grabbed £1.3million in loot during a burglary spree at 22 banks and post offices, which included Lloyds Bank in Churchtown.
In that raid, at around 4.30pm on Thursday, January 8, last year, they got in by pulling off the roof tiles at the rear of the building before forcing their way through the insulation, felt and plasterboard to get into the bank.
Once inside they demanded cash and fled through the front door and into a dark coloured vehicle.
One eyewitness said she saw two men running out of the bank, adding: “It happened as I was locking up, I realised what had happened when I saw the women who work there all standing outside.”
At Liverpool Crown Court last Wednesday (May 25) justice finally caught up with them as Kieron Whittle, Alan Lea, Ian Stewart, Shaun McDonald, John Stewart and Gary McNeil were all put behind bars.
Liverpool Crown Court heard shocked staff were left “petrified” when the gang burst through the roofs, walls and doors of branches in Merseyside and beyond.
However, despite the “hallmarks of professionalism” shown in the carefully researched robberies, the crooks were caught out after ditching balaclavas and gloves bearing incriminating DNA.
Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: “Each of you were playing for high stakes and you were determined so to do. You cared not about their ordeal. You cared not about their suffering.”
Merseyside and Cheshire police launched Operation Brenzett to investigate robberies committed using similar methods from 2009 to 2015.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: “The usual modus operandi involved members of the gang forcing entry into the premises with sledgehammers and crowbars, more often than not via the roof.”
A pregnant worker feared she was going to prematurely give birth in a robbery on March 23, 2015, when three men targeted the Lloyds TSB in Sutton, St Helens, and stole £6,710.
Whittle, 35, of Little Parkfield Road, Aigburth; John Stewart, 30, of Waverley Road, Aigburth; Lea, 38, of Verney Crescent, Toxteth; McDonald, 38, of Charleston Road, Toxteth, Ian Stewart, 48, formerly of Stonegate Drive, Toxteth; and McNeil, 35, formerly of Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool city centre; all admitted conspiracy to commit robbery.
Ken Heckle, defending Lea, said his client said he was only a driver for the gang.
Lloyd Morgan, defending Whittle, said the dad-of-two wanted to leave his life of crime behind him.
Alaric Walmsley, defending John Stewart, said the dad-of-one at no time did “have or use any item that could be used as a weapon”.
Jonathan Duffy, defending McDonald – previously jailed for robbery and heroin offences – said the dad-ofthree cared for disabled family members.
Ben Morris, defending McNeil, said the dad-of-four was tempted by crime after giving up his job to care for his father.