Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
65yrs’ jail for ‘child snatch’ moped gang
BGT star Amanda helps snare thugs
A MOPED gang exposed by BGT judge Amanda Holden for threatening to snatch a toddler have been jailed for almost 65 years.
Ms Holden, 48, tweeted footage of two robbers approaching Phoebe Ruele and her three-year-old son.
An attacker told her: “Give me your rings or I’m going to hurt your child and take him away,” a court heard. She screamed: “Don’t take my baby.”
The 12-strong gang were responsible for 382 offences including stealing a £180,000 BBC camera at the Oxfordcambridge Boat Race.
In the video tweeted to Ms Holden’s near two million followers, thug John Mcfadyen, 24, grabs the terrified mum’s arm.
A driver beeped her horn and alerted some passing scaffolders who chased the gang in Richmond, South West London.
Ms Holden urged the public to call the police “if u know these scumbags” after the robbery last June.
Sentencing, Judge Georgina Kent said: “To threaten a mother with violence towards a very young child and to threaten to take the child away is a most distressing threat.
“Miss Ruele had been left feeling afraid that this could happen again when she is out with her children.”
The gang, all from West and South West London, were led by Terry Marsh of Fulham. Marsh, 32, admitted conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to burgle.
He was jailed for 13 years yesterday at Kingston crown court.
Steven Weller, John and Isaac Mcfadyen, 19, Ryan Moran, 26, Aaron Pask, 27, Scott Leaver, 25, Mitchell Leaver, 18, Josh Myers, 19, Kian Taylor, 20, Ram Monk, 23, and Omar Tafat, 22, were handed sentences of up to eight years.