Black Country gang who carried out series of planned raids jailed for 30 years

A Black Country gang who took part in a 'highly organised conspiracy' to steal products and tractor trailers from companies including those located in Walsall, Oldbury, Willenhall and Telford have been locked up for 30 years.

In a two day sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers KC said none of the nine men played a small part in the operation, between October 2019 and February 2022 - all had either a significant or leading role.

The operation saw various members of the group take part in 19 raids during that time, often using a white Scania tractor unit before breaking into mainly large firms situated on industrial parks and taking trailers and the stock they contained. The court heard it was so well planned, most of them took less than ten minutes.

One raid, at Globex Transport in Walsall in the early hours of July 1 2021, saw £20,000 worth of toilet paper stolen which was due to be delivered to Poundland as people were stockpiling it during the coronavirus pandemic.

Other items taken included £50k worth of baby milk on an operation in Oldbury, gin and other alcohol, galaxy chocolate, a de-humidifier and other industrial equipment and in Telford, electric cycles worth £47,000. 

In another raid in Walsall and one in Willenhall they stole over £190,000 of copper and in the Telford incident, the court heard they returned to the scene of their first crime to look for more cycles. The tractor trailers they stole and usually abandoned were worth on average £16k.

Different members of the gang took varying roles in the operation, some had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit theft initially but then changed their plea on the trial day.

'A highly organised conspiracy'

Judge Chambers told the group: "This was a highly organised conspiracy to steal lorry trailers and expensive merchandise in planned attacks which included other areas of the country from where you all came from, including Lancashire, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire and Devon.

"In total the amount of goods and trailers taken were valued at nearly £2m but when you take into account the cost of increased insurance premiums and security it was very much in excess of that.

"Some of you were arrested at the scene of an incident yet continued to offend - all of the 19 raids would have took significant planning in advance, technical know how and the use of equipment which was later found in a number of vehicles used.

"When you were at the scene you would cut fences, disable trackers and in once case break into a key safe to get access to a tractor trailer, it was clear you all knew exactly what you were doing."

"It was a persistent and sustained operation, disrupting mainly large companies on industrial parks, most of which carried goods which were vital to the supply chain of the British economy."

He said he was taking into account the amount of time some of the men had spent on remand and the time it had taken for the case to come to court, during which many of their family circumstances had changed."

'Main man'

Wayne Summers, aged 38, of Peartree Avenue Tipton was said to be the 'main man' in the operation and was jailed for four years for his part in it.

Richard Pearson, aged 38 of Castlecroft Road, Wolverhampton who played a 'leading role' was given four years and nine months and also 12 months to run concurrent for 'going equipped.'

Ian Mottram, aged 33, of Gurney Road, Walsall and driver Christopher Aston, aged 33 of Hodder Grove, West Bromwich were both given three years in jail.

Another man who played a 'leading role,' Gary Harvey, aged 37, of Bassett Road Wednesbury was given three years and nine months and James Harvey, aged 39. of Sycamore Road Tipton two years.

Spencer Howell, aged 50 of Thursfield Road, West Bromwich who had 48 previous convictions was given three years and Stuart Thomas, of Mark Road, Wednesbury was given three years and six months.

Luke Selman, aged 28, of Hawbush Road Walsall three years.